Overall Mortality, Survival, And Causes Of Death In Former US Olympians

Abstract

United States (US) send a greatest number of athletes to Olympic Games but their longevity and specific causes of deaths have not been examined. PURPOSE: To quantify US Olympic athletes’ longevity and to determine the impact of specific causes of deaths (CoD) on Olympians life duration in relation to the general population. METHODS: Female (n = 2,301) and male (n = 5,823) US athletes who have participated at least once in the summer or winter Olympic Games between 1912 and 2012 were followed up to 2016. Their life status and CoD were certified by the National Death Index. The years-saved method was applied to quantify longevity gains/losses in former US Olympians in comparison to the general population. RESULTS: Former US Olympians lived on average ~5 years longer (95% CI 4.3 to 6) than their referents in the general population, based on the 2,309 deaths observed out of 8,124 former athletes. The burden of each CoD was distributed according to its impact on the total number of years of life saved: cardiovascular diseases (CVD), 2.2 years (1.9 to 2.5); cancer, 1.5 years (1.3 to 1.8); respiratory diseases, 0.8 years (0.7 to 0.9); and external causes, 0.5 (0.4 to 0.6). Nervous system diseases and mental disorders mortality rates were not significantly different from their peers in the general population. CONCLUSION: US Olympians live ~5 years longer than their referents in the general population, advantage mainly driven by lower risks of CVD and cancer. Nervous system diseases and mental disorders do not appear to contribute to the extended longevity that Olympians display.