ACC: Cardiac Arrest Incidence at Long-Distance Races Remains Stable
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, April 2, 2025 -- Despite increased participation in U.S. long-distance running races, cardiac arrest incidence remains stable, according to a study published online March 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association to coincide with the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, held from March 29 to 31 in Chicago.
Jonathan H. Kim, M.D., from the Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, and colleagues estimated long-distance race-related cardiac arrest incidence and outcomes among 29.3 million U.S. marathon and half-marathon finishers (2010 through 2023).
The researchers found that compared with 2000 to 2009, cardiac arrest incidence remained unchanged in the contemporary period (incidence rate, 0.54 versus 0.60 per 100,000 participants). The more recent period had significant declines in cardiac death incidence (0.20 versus 0.39 per 100,000) and case fatality rate (34 versus 71 percent). Men had more cardiac arrests than women (1.12 versus 0.19 per 100,000), and cardiac arrests remained more common during marathons (1.04 per 100,000) versus half-marathons (0.47 per 100,000). The etiology of cardiac arrest was available in 52 percent of cases, and coronary artery disease was the most common cause (40 percent). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was an uncommon cause of cardiac arrest (7 percent). Survival was associated with decreased cardiopulmonary resuscitation time and an initial ventricular tachyarrhythmia rhythm.
"Effective emergency action planning during marathons and half-marathons, inclusive of immediate access to defibrillation, has likely led to significant improvements in cardiac arrest outcomes, equivalent to settings with publicly accessible automated external defibrillators," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the sports and athletic industry.
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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
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Posted April 2025
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