The boom in strenuous sporting activity, such as the 1982 London marathon with 16,350 competitors, has been accompanied by an increase in reports of sudden cardiac death.
After running to Athens from Marathon in 490 BC, bringing the news of victory over the Persians, Pheidippides, who was a trained runner, is reported to have collapsed and died.' The number of case reports of similar events during strenuous physical activity has increased, particularly over the past 10 years, and has paralleled a boom in sporting activity. In 1982 the London marathon alone attracted 16 350 competitors. This increase in popularity has also been observed in other sports, most notably squash, track and field athletics, and swimming. Accompanying the boom in participation has been a disturbing increase in reports-often in the media-of sudden death associated with strenuous sports such as marathon running and squash. Hence it is important to consider the strength of the association between sudden death and sporting activity.
Northcote et al. (Sat,) conducted a editorial in Sudden cardiac death. Strenuous sports was evaluated. The boom in strenuous sporting activity, such as the 1982 London marathon with 16,350 competitors, has been accompanied by an increase in reports of sudden cardiac death.