@article{ref1,
title="Data from a nationwide registry on sports-related sudden cardiac deaths in Germany",
journal="European journal of preventive cardiology",
year="2015",
author="Bohm, Philipp and Scharhag, Jürgen and Meyer, Tim",
volume="23",
number="6",
pages="649-656",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Prospective national registries examining the incidence and aetiology of sports-related sudden cardiac death (SrSCD) not only in competitive athletes but also in recreational sports participants are uncommon. In May 2012, a prospective registry on SrSCD was installed to examine the incidence and particularly the aetiology of such events in the general population in Germany. <br><br>METHODS: The registry consists of a web-based platform to record SrSCD cases. Media-monitoring and cooperation with 15 institutes of forensic medicine complemented the search. SrSCD was defined as death occurring during sports activity or up to 1 hour after its cessation, regardless of successful resuscitation. We included subjects at all levels of competition as well as recreational athletes. <br><br>RESULTS: After 30 months of observation, 144 SrSCDs were recorded (mean age 46.8 ± 16.2 years). The overall incidence was 1.2-1.5/million/year, with 97% being male. Most of the cases occurred in the context of non-elite competitive or recreational sports. Football [soccer] and running were the most common disciplines. In subjects ≤35 years, myocarditis prevailed, whereas in athletes ≥35 years, CAD predominated by far. Few cardiomyopathies were observed. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In Germany, the largest proportion of SrSCDs occurs in middle-aged men during recreational sports or non-elite competitive sports. The distribution of cardiac diseases responsible for SrSCD seems to vary among European countries. Our findings may indicate the need for a larger focus on myocarditis prevention in the young as well as widening the screening scope to younger athletes below the 'elite' level and to senior athletes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2047-4873",
doi="10.1177/2047487315594087",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2047487315594087"
}