A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that despite a steady rate of race-related cardiac arrests, the incidence of fatal outcomes has decreased by nearly 50% since 2010. The researchers attribute this decline to improved emergency response measures, particularly faster access to defibrillation.
The study analyzed data from over 29 million half-marathon and marathon finishers between 2010 and 2023, identifying 176 cases of cardiac arrest. While the incidence of cardiac arrests remained stable until 2020, case fatality rates declined significantly, from 48% in 2010-2014 to 25% in 2015-2023.
The researchers found that male marathon runners were at higher risk, with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as the leading cause. However, they also noted that bystander CPR and AED intervention improved survival rates in cases where medical profiles were available.
According to the study’s findings, overall survival among cardiac arrest cases improved from 29% in the 2000-2009 period to 66% between 2010 and 2023. The slight increase in cardiac arrests post-2020 remains unexplained, but reduced healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic may be a contributing factor.
The researchers highlight the importance of universal CPR and AED access in reducing cardiac deaths among long-distance runners. Further research is needed to investigate the post-pandemic health impacts, participant characteristics by race, and genetic factors in unexplained cases, as well as promoting broader cardiac screening and emergency preparedness in endurance sports.
Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250331/Defibrillators-and-CPR-cut-marathon-cardiac-deaths-in-half-study-shows.aspx