Open AccessIncidence of sudden atheltic deaths between 1985 and 1990 in marion county, indiana
Author(s) -
Waller Bruce F.,
Waller Bruce F.,
Hawley Dean A.,
Clark Michael A.,
Pless John E.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960151111
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , demography , sudden death , sudden cardiac death , athletes , gerontology , physical therapy , physics , sociology , optics
Relatively little information is available concerning the incidence of sudden death in athletes in the United States. The present study provides annual incidence rates of sudden athletic deaths in Marion County, Indiana, home of Indianapolis, the “amateur sports capital of the world.” The overall incidence was 0.04% (18 athletic deaths in 44,481 forensic necropsies). This incidence varied slightly over the 6‐year study period: 1985 (0.06%), 1986 (0.03%), 1987 (0.04%), 1988 (0.09%), 1989 (0%), 1990 (0.01%). Of the 18 sudden athletic deaths, 88% were cardiac in origin. A retrospective analysis of preparticipation screening efforts suggests that most of the cardiac conditions responsible for death could have been detected.