Better medical response and training and the use of life-saving equipment at races have improved survival rates from cardiac arrests, according to a study from the Race Associated Cardiac Event Registry (RACER).
The study analyzed cardiac arrests that occurred during US marathons and half-marathons between 2010 and 2023, tracking how they happened, who’s most at risk, and survival rates. Of the 29 million recreational marathon and half marathon finishers there were 176 documented cardiac arrests—averaging one in every 166,667 runners. Of those, 117 individuals survived, resulting in a 66 per cent survival rate. This was an improvement over the 2000 – 2009 RACER study which was at 29 per cent.
Men were the higher risk factor—1.12 per 100,00—with women showing 0.19 per 100,000. Perhaps not surprisingly marathoners were also at a higher risk than half marathoners—1.04 per 100,000 and 0.47 per 100,000 respectively.
Of the 52 per cent of cardiac arrests coronary artery disease (CAD) was the most common medical issue. Other causes included an enlarged heart and exertional heat stroke but were less common.
The conclusion was that despite increased participation in endurance races, rapid response from medical teams and the immediate availability of defibrillation and CPR led to increased survival rates.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
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