All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Major League Baseball Players

Nguyen et al assess the all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates among Major League Baseball players compared with the general US male population. A few studies reported lower all-cause mortality among Major League Baseball (MLB) players compared with US males, but only 1 study with a small sample (n=985) examined specific causes of death and reported largely nonsignificant results. Players in MLB may have lower cause-specific mortality rates because of fitness associated with playing baseball, but other sport-related aspects-injuries, lifestyle habits, or environmental exposures particular to baseball- could adversely affect players' health. The authors found lower mortality rates among MLB players overall and for certain specific causes compared with National Football League players, all of whom had playing careers of 5 years or longer.