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Abstract
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OBJECTIVES: Current knowledge about the incidence and risk factors for exertional hyperthermia (core body temperature ≥40°C) is predominantly based on military populations or small-sized studies in athletes. We assessed the incidence of exertional hyperthermia in 227 participants of a 15-km running race, and identified predictors for exertional hyperthermia.
DESIGN: Observational study.
METHODS: We measured intestinal core body temperature before and immediately after the race. To identify predictive factors of maximum core body temperature, we entered sex, age, BMI, post-finish dehydration, number of training weeks, fluid intake before and during the race, finish time, and core body temperature change during warming-up into a backward linear regression analysis. Additionally, two subgroups of hyperthermic and non-hyperthermic participants were compared.
RESULTS: In a WBGT of 11°C, core body temperature increased from 37.6±0.4°C at baseline to 37.8±0.4°C after warming-up, and 39.2±0.7°C at the finish. A total of 15% of all participants had exertional hyperthermia at the finish. Age, BMI, fluid intake before the race and the core body temperature change during warming-up significantly predicted maximal core body temperature (p<0.001). Participants with hyperthermia at the finish line had a significantly greater core body temperature rise (p<0.01) during the warming-up compared to non-hyperthermic peers, but similar race times (p=0.46).
CONCLUSION: 15% of the recreational runners developed exertional hyperthermia, whilst core body temperature change during the warming-up was identified as strongest predictor for core body temperature at the finish. This study emphasizes that exertional hyperthermia is a common phenomenon in recreational athletes, and can be partially predicted.
Language: en |