Sports-related acute cardiovascular events in a general population: a French prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The effects of physical exercise on the cardiovascular system are presented as a 'paradox' with beneficial effects and hazards. Most earlier studies were retrospective, were concerned with trained athletes, and focused on sudden death or myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to prospectively study the incidence and the causes of sports-related acute cardiovascular events in a general population.


METHODS
This 1-year prospective study concerned three regions of the southwest of France. Four hospital medical emergency departments participated in the study, and collected all cases of sports-related acute cardiovascular events.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-seven sports-related cardiovascular events were collected. The mean age of the participants was 45.5 (14.6) years. Most of the events involved men (81.1%). Thus, global incidence of sports-related acute cardiovascular events was 6.5/100,000 participants/year and 10.8/100,000 men/year and 2.2/100,000 women/year, respectively. Forty sports-related deaths [49.0 (13.9) years old; 38 men], 47 sports-related nonlethal MI [52.8 (10.7) years old; 42 men], and 32 (21 men) sports-related cardiac arrhythmias (21 supraventricular, 10 men) were reported. Sports-related deaths and MI were most often observed in the 35-59-years-old men group (P = 0.01). Running, cycling, and swimming were mainly concerned.


CONCLUSIONS
In the general population studied, the absolute incidence of sport-related acute cardiovascular events comprised 6.5/100,000 participants/year. Sports-related MI and deaths, which were the two main causes of emergency calls, were significantly more frequent in middle-aged men. In all cases, except for sports-related supraventricular arrhythmias, men were significantly more involved than women.
Chevalier
Laurent
L
Clinique du Sport Bordeaux-Mérignac, Mérignac, France.
Hajjar
Moufid
M
Douard
Herve
H
Cherief
Ahmed
A
Dindard
Jean-Michel
JM
Sedze
Françoise
F
Ricard
Rachel
R
Vincent
Marie-Pierre
MP
Corneloup
Luc
L
Gencel
Laurent
L
Carre
François
F