Abstract
Background and Objectives: Sudden cardiac death (SCD), particular among elite footballers, has attracted much attention in recent times. However, limited information exists on football-related SCD in Turkey. Autopsy-based studies of sports-related sudden deaths in Turkey are rare and often have small sample sizes. To address this, this study aimed to determine the population-based incidence and profile of football-related SCD nationally in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Due to a lack of national data on this issue, football-related SCD (non-elite competitive or recreational football) between 1 January 2011, and 31 December 2019 were identified by dual, independent identification and screening of online media reports. Deaths were explored by sex, age group, season, and phase of exercise. Descriptive statistics were utilised. Age-specific mortality rates and proportional mortality rates were calculated. Results: In total, 118 football-related SCD were identified, a crude mortality rate of 0.41 per 100,000 population. All fatalities were males and the mean age was 35.5 years ± 10.4. Those aged 40–49 years recorded the highest mortality rate (0.67/100,000), three times the risk of those aged 50–59 years (RR = 3.1; 95%CI:1.5–6.4). Those aged 30–39 recorded the highest age-specific proportional mortality rate (0.86/1000 deaths). The highest risk occurred while playing football (n = 97; 82.2%), with another 15% of deaths (n = 18) occurring within 1 h of play. Almost all fatalities (n = 113; 95.8%) occurred during participation in recreational football. Conclusions: This study has identified football-related SCD most commonly occurs during recreational football among males aged 30–49 years. It is recommended males of this age participating in recreational football be encouraged to seek pre-participation heart health checks. Given the value of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in responding to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, future research should explore the feasibility and effectiveness of AEDs in preventing football-related SCD in Turkey including training of first responders in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED use.
Highlights
IntroductionFootball ( known as soccer) is the most popular sport in the world with an estimated 260 million participants [1]
Football is the most popular sport in the world with an estimated 260 million participants [1]
From 2011 to 2019, 118 football-related sudden cardiac deaths in Turkey were identified from media reports
Summary
Football ( known as soccer) is the most popular sport in the world with an estimated 260 million participants [1]. Daniel Jarque and Antonio Puerta have all attracted attention in recent years [2] Such deaths are all the more remarkable because football players are considered extremely fit and healthy [3]. Uncommon, can occur during sports and physical activity and includes unexpected deaths in people with symptoms onset within one hour of their death [5,6]. Some risk factors such as age, gender and type of activity have been found in sudden deaths related to sports, including increased prevalence among males, likely due to increased participation and differences in training frequency and intensity [7,8]. Sudden cardiac death (SCD), particular among elite footballers, has attracted much attention in recent times. All fatalities were males and the mean age was 35.5 years ± 10.4
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