December 23, 2000BMJ168 citationsOpen Access
Cardiovascular mortality in Dutch men during 1996 European football championship: longitudinal population study
Key Result
An important football match was associated with increased mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke in men on the day of the match (RR 1.51; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.09).
Study Design
Type
Observational
Structured PICO
Does exposure to the stress of an important football match increase mortality due to coronary heart disease and stroke in the Dutch population aged 45 years or over?
P
Population
Dutch population aged 45 years or over in June 1996, assessed for mortality around the day the Dutch football team was eliminated from the European championship.
E
Exposure
Exposure to the stress of an important football match (22 June 1996, the day the Dutch football team was eliminated from the European football championship)
C
Comparator
The five days before and after the match and the same period in 1995 and 1997
O
Outcome
All cause mortality and mortality due to coronary heart disease and strokehard clinical
Acute emotional stress from watching an important sporting event is associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular mortality in men.
Main Result
Relative Risk: 1.51 (95% CI 1.08–2.09)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether an important football match increases stress to such an extent that it triggers acute myocardial infarction and stroke. DESIGN: Longitudinal study of mortality around 22 June 1996 (the day the Dutch football team was eliminated from the European football championship). Mortality on 22 June was compared with the five days before and after the match and in the same period in 1995 and 1997. SETTING: Netherlands. SUBJECTS: Dutch population aged 45 years or over in June 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All cause mortality and mortality due to coronary heart disease and stroke. RESULTS: Mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke was increased in men on the day of the match (relative risk 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 2.09). No clear rise in mortality was observed for women (1.11, 0.80 to 1.56). Among men, about 14 excess cardiovascular deaths occurred on the day of the match. CONCLUSION: Important sporting events may provoke a sufficient level of stress to trigger symptomatic cardiovascular disease. The difference between men and women requires further investigation.
Cite This Study
Witte et al. (Sat,) conducted a observational in Acute myocardial infarction and stroke. Important football match vs. Five days before and after the match and the same period in 1995 and 1997 was evaluated on Mortality due to coronary heart disease and stroke (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.09). An important football match was associated with increased mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke in men on the day of the match (RR 1.51; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.09).