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2012-09-12 6:13 PM

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Subject: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist

I tried posting this earlier today..I found this article on my coach's website (Endurance Corner) and thought it was worth a read.  Sorry if this has been talked to death. No pun intended.

http://www.endurancecorner.com/Larry_Creswell/triathlon_death
 

 

 



Edited by texasgrrl 2012-09-12 6:13 PM


2012-09-12 6:29 PM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist

From the article:

We can dispel some common misperceptions:

  • This is not a problem of beginners and is not a problem with swimming ability.
  • The fatality rate has not increased in more recent years. The number of fatalities has paralleled the growth in participation rate in triathlon.
  • The fatality rate is not related to using/not using a wetsuit.
  • The fatality rate is not related to the type of swim start (mass, wave, time-trial). No particular start method appears to be safest.
  • The fatality rate is not related to the length of the race.

 --

We shared a preliminary look at the data at the USAT Race Directors Symposium held in Colorado Springs this past January. Some highlights:

  • The overall fatality rate for USAT-sanctioned events is approximately 1 per 75,000 participants. For comparison, the risk of SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) at long-distance running events is approximately 1 per 100,000 participants in marathons and 1 per 300,000 participants in half marathons.
  • There were 45 fatalities, including 1 victim at a training camp and 1 spectator death (due to a bike crash). Male victims outnumbered female victims, roughly paralleling their participation rates in triathlon. All age groups have been affected except teenagers.
  • Of the remaining 43 athlete fatalities at races, 5 were traumatic (all from bike crashes) and 38 were non-traumatic (due to a medical cause).
  • Of the 38 non-traumatic deaths, 30 occurred during the swim, 3 during the bike, 3 during the run, and 2 after the race. All but 1 of these 38 occurred due to SCA; the other was due to a pre-existing metabolic syndrome and hyperthermia.
  • Although the proximal cause of SCA could not be established with certainty in each victim, it appears that “typical” drowning or unusual medical problems (such as stroke, seizure, syncope, IPE--immersion pulmonary edema) were not likely responsible. The most plausible explanation is a sudden, fatal arrhythmia -- a primary cardiac problem.
2012-09-12 8:19 PM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist
In other words: "Doo doo Occurs".
2012-09-12 9:32 PM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist

+1 great article

Not to make light of this, but my morbid curiosity is peaked by the "1 spectator death (due to a bike crash)".  That sucked.

 

2012-09-13 1:10 AM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist
Thanks for posting the link!
2012-09-13 4:54 AM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist

Coincidentally, this morning I read an article (it's in Danish so I won't link, just a resume) about deaths in marathons. In the London marathon there were 10 deaths among 650.000 participants over over the last decade(s?). All were men.

The deaths among sub 30yr were all caused by some undiscovered heart problem. And the sup 55yr were caused by medical condition such as high cholesterol, things that a health check should identify. 

For the 30-55yr group no cause could be identified, but the doctor cited in the article theorizes that these were men that had had their kids and had some desire to show that they were still going strong. Something about testosterone and the "competition gene" making men able to push their body beyond their limits.

According to this specialist, while the risk of death is 7 times higher for the runner during the race than the couch potato, it is halved the rest of the time compared to the couch potato.



2012-09-13 10:15 AM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist
erik.norgaard - 2012-09-13 5:54 AM

Coincidentally, this morning I read an article (it's in Danish so I won't link, just a resume)

For the 30-55yr group no cause could be identified, but the doctor cited in the article theorizes that these were men that had had their kids and had some desire to show that they were still going strong. Something about testosterone and the "competition gene" making men able to push their body beyond their limits.

 

What kind of JUNK Science is this?

 

2012-09-13 12:34 PM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist

Great article. I found it interesting there wasn't an epidemiologist on the list of people invovled in the study.

that being said, the numbers do point out something - They don't know why.

Can't wait for more information though, and it does make me think I should get a check up.

2012-09-13 2:45 PM
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Subject: RE: Triathlon related deaths article by cardiologist
vonschnapps - 2012-09-13 5:15 PM
erik.norgaard - 2012-09-13 5:54 AM

Coincidentally, this morning I read an article (it's in Danish so I won't link, just a resume)

For the 30-55yr group no cause could be identified, but the doctor cited in the article theorizes that these were men that had had their kids and had some desire to show that they were still going strong. Something about testosterone and the "competition gene" making men able to push their body beyond their limits.

 

What kind of JUNK Science is this?

Yeah, well: Autopsies showed no sign of previous illness that could explain the sudden death. The lack of women in the statistics and you can only theorise if this is a mens thing. And he clearly said it's a hypothesis, that's how science starts, then you need to confirm it, get more data ... It's also clear that with the sample .. 10 deaths total, it doesn't doesn't provide much for concluding anything. 

Junk science .. or a vague suspicion? Not enough data for sure.

Anyway, the interesting statistics IMO (if correct) that you may have 7 times higher risk of dying during the race, but only half the risk the rest of the time compared to non-exercising. 

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