[Early symptoms and causes of sudden death related to sports activities].
BACKGROUND
This study provides an overview on presymptoms and causes of sport-related death and suggests preventive measures.


METHODS
29 436 autopsies of the Centre of Legal Medicine at the University of Frankfurt/Main from 1972 to 2001 were analysed and compared with a control group.


RESULTS
96 men (95 %, average age 53.3 years) and 5 women (5 %, average age 36.4 years) were involved in 101 fatalities connected with sports (0.34 % of all autopsies). 78 athletes (77.2 %) died during, 20 (19.8 %) immediately after sport activities. Immediately before death 18 of 50 persons concerned were free of symptoms, twelve complained of nausea and vomiting, seven of vertigo, five of weakness, four of epigastric pain and dyspnoea, three exhibited angina pectoris symptoms. The day before death 7 of 25 athletes had symptoms like angina pectoris, nausea, backache and palpitation. 84 fatalities (83.2 %) were due to coronary heart disease. Seven were due to myocarditis (6.9 %), in four cases (26.7 %) among athletes younger than 36. Among children and adolescents (n = 4) myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and in two cases a valvular defect of the heart were the cause of death. In comparison to controls death in elder athletes due to coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction was high significantly more common and athletes died significantly younger.


CONCLUSIONS
Further prospective investigations are needed to provide strategies for prevention.
Bux
R
R
Zentrum der Rechtsmedizin, J. W. Goethe-Universität, FFM. bux@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Parzeller
M
M
Raschka
C
C
Bratzke
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004417:Dyspnea; D005260:Female; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000401:mortality*; D009325:Nausea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports; D014717:Vertigo; D014839:Vomiting