title: Incidence of sudden athletic deaths between 1985 and 1990 in Marion County, Indiana.
abstract: Relatively little information is available concerning the incidence of sudden death in athletes in the United States. The present study provides annual incidence rates of sudden athletic deaths in Marion County, Indiana, home of Indianapolis, the "amateur sports capital of the world." The overall incidence was 0.04% (18 athletic deaths in 44,481 forensic necropsies). This incidence varied slightly over the 6-year study period: 1985 (0.06%), 1986 (0.03%), 1987 (0.04%), 1988 (0.09%), 1989 (0%), 1990 (0.01%). Of the 18 sudden athletic deaths, 88% were cardiac in origin. A retrospective analysis of preparticipation screening efforts suggests that most of the cardiac conditions responsible for death could have been detected.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Pathology Registry, St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hawley
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pless
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports