Left ventricular hypertrophy, a marker of swimming-induced pulmonary edema susceptibility, was present in 45% of triathletes who died during the swim portion, exceeding expected population prevalence.
Observational (n=58)
Yes
Is left ventricular hypertrophy associated with swimming-induced pulmonary oedema and death during triathlons?
Left ventricular hypertrophy is highly prevalent in triathletes who die during the swim portion, suggesting immersion pulmonary edema as a significant etiology of death.
BACKGROUND/AIM: To address the question as to whether immersion pulmonary oedema (IPO) may be a common cause of death in triathlons, markers of swimming-induced pulmonary oedema (SIPO) susceptibility were sought in triathletes' postmortem examinations. METHODS: Deaths while training for or during triathlon events in the USA and Canada from October 2008 to November 2015 were identified, and postmortem reports requested. We assessed obvious causes of death; the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH); comparison with healthy triathletes. RESULTS: We identified 58 deaths during the time period of the review, 42 (72.4%) of which occurred during a swim. Of these, 23 postmortem reports were obtained. Five individuals had significant (≥70%) coronary artery narrowing; one each had coronary stents; retroperitoneal haemorrhage; or aortic dissection. 9 of 20 (45%) with reported heart mass exceeded 95th centile values. LV free wall and septal thickness were reported in 14 and 9 cases, respectively; of these, 6 (42.9%) and 4 (44.4%) cases exceeded normal values. 6 of 15 individuals (40%) without an obvious cause of death had excessive heart mass. The proportion of individuals with LVH exceeded the prevalence in the general triathlete population. CONCLUSIONS: LVH-a marker of SIPO susceptibility-was present in a greater than the expected proportion of triathletes who died during the swim portion. We propose that IPO may be a significant aetiology of death during the swimming phase in triathletes. The importance of testing for LVH in triathletes as a predictor of adverse outcomes should be explored further.
Moon et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Triathlon-related deaths (n=58). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) vs. General triathlete population was evaluated on Prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Left ventricular hypertrophy, a marker of swimming-induced pulmonary edema susceptibility, was present in 45% of triathletes who died during the swim portion, exceeding expected population prevalence.