title: Watching soccer is not associated with an increase in cardiac events.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It remains controversial, whether spectators of soccer matches are exposed to an increased risk of cardiac events. In 2006, the Soccer World Cup (SWC) took place in Germany and provided an excellent opportunity to assess the effects of emotional stress on cardiac events in a large cohort of soccer enthusiasts in the region of Bavaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the Bavarian Council for Statistics and Data Management for the period of SWC (June 9-July 9, 2006) and reference periods (SWCRef; May 1-July 31, 2005; May 1-June 8, 2006 and July 10-31, 2006) for the following diagnoses: myocardial infarction; myocardial re-infarction; cardiac arrest; paroxysmal tachycardia; atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter; all remaining tachyarrhythmias. Data were compared to the seven days during the tournament, on which the German team played (SWCGerman), the rest of the SWC period (i.e. the days the German team did not play, 24 days, SWCRest) and SWCRef (61 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was neither a significant increase (p>0.433) in total cardiac events in Bavaria per day during SWCGerman (161.1 ± 46.7) or SWCRest (170.5 ± 52.3) as compared to the SWCRef (176.2 ± 51.8), nor in any investigated diagnosis. After controlling for age, gender, loss of a match, outside temperature and nitric-dioxide air pollution levels the results remained essentially unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Watching soccer was not associated with an increased incidence of cardiac events, regardless of whether the home team played or not. These data further support the hypothesis that spectators of sporting events are not exposed to an increased risk of cardiac events.
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Institute of Sports Medicine of the State of Salzburg, Austria; Sports Medicine of the Olympic Center Salzburg-Rif, Austria.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niederseer
authors.forename: Christoph W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Thaler
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: Michaela C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Niederseer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plöderl
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niebauer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Bavaria; Football; Myocardial infarction; Spectator; World cup