Black race was associated with a significantly higher incidence of homicide-related death among NCAA athletes compared to white athletes (4.2 vs 0.4 per 100,000; RR 7.0, p<0.001).
Observational (n=4,242,519)
Yes
The incidence of homicide-related death among NCAA athletes is 1.0/100,000, with males, black athletes, and American football players at highest risk.
Relative Risk: 7
Absolute Event Rate: 4.2% vs 0.4%
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: The incidence of homicide-related death among individuals of college age in the United States population is estimated at 15.5/100,000. The incidence of homicide among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes is unknown. AIM: To investigate the rate of homicide-related death in NCAA athletes and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: The NCAA Resolutions list, NCAA catastrophic insurance claims, media reports, and published NCAA demographic data were used to identify student athlete deaths and total participant seasons from 2003-04 through 2012-13. Homicide-related deaths were analysed by sex, race, division, sport, method, location, and circumstance. Internet searches were used to gather case details. RESULTS: Forty-two cases of homicide-related death were identified from 4,242,519 individual participant seasons during the ten-year study period. The incidence of homicide-related death in NCAA athletes was 1.0/100,000. The incidence in males was 1.45/100,000 and in females was 0.4/100,000 (relative risk (RR) 2.9, p=0.01). The incidence in black athletes was 4.2/100,000 and in white athletes was 0.4/100,000 (RR 7.0, p<0.001). The highest sport-specific homicide-related death rate was in American football (3.7/100,000), with a RR of 4.4 (p=0.002) compared to all other sports. 88% of cases occurred off-campus. 38% of cases occurred at a social gathering, and 38% of cases occurred in a place of residence. 74% involved a fatal shooting. CONCLUSIONS: Homicide-related deaths in NCAA athletes occur most commonly in males, black athletes, and American football players. Understanding the incidence, risk factors, and circumstances of homicide-related deaths in college athletes may assist NCAA institutions in developing preventative measures. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: University of Washington Human Subjects Application, HSD No. 42077.
Rao et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Homicide-related death (n=4,242,519). Black race vs. White race was evaluated on Incidence of homicide-related death (RR 7.0, p=<0.001). Black race was associated with a significantly higher incidence of homicide-related death among NCAA athletes compared to white athletes (4.2 vs 0.4 per 100,000; RR 7.0, p<0.001).