Cardiac Arrest during Long-Distance Running Races

The authors report on a U.S. registry of cardiac arrests during marathons and half-marathons. The rate of arrest was equal to or lower than rates for other strenuous physical activities. The most common cause was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or coronary artery disease. Participation in long-distance running races has increased annually in the United States. In 2010, there were approximately 2 million participants in marathon and half-marathon races, as compared with fewer than 1 million participants in 2000. 1 This increase has been driven in part by heightened public awareness of the health benefits of regular physical exercise. However, the growth of long-distance running has been accompanied by studies documenting post-race cardiac dysfunction 2 , 3 and numerous reports of race-related cardiac arrest. 4 – 7 These unexpected tragedies attract considerable media attention and have led to concerns regarding the health risks of this activity. 8 – 11 Sudden death . . .