Key result
Watching the New Zealand All Blacks lose the 2003 Rugby World Cup semi-final was associated with a 50% increase in heart failure admissions (p<0.01) and a 20% increase in ACS admissions (p<0.05).
Why the study?
Does watching major sporting events like the Rugby World Cup increase acute cardiac admissions in New Zealand?
Observational
Yes
Does watching major sporting events like the Rugby World Cup increase acute cardiac admissions in New Zealand?
Effect estimate: 50% increase
p-value: p=<0.01
Watching a major sporting event loss is associated with increased acute cardiac admissions, particularly heart failure in women, suggesting a need for preventive measures in high-risk fans.
May signal heightened cardiac risk during major sports losses; extends stress-cardiology observations but leaves open causal confirmation and clinical application.
AIM: The relationship between watching major sporting events and cardiac hospital admissions is contentious. This study is the first to investigate cardiovascular admissions during Rugby World Cup (RWC) tournaments. METHODS AND RESULTS: New Zealand (NZ) public hospital admissions data were analysed for cardiovascular events during the 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 RWC tournaments. The exposure period was the day of the NZ All Blacks last match and 2 days post-match. The control period was equivalent days in October or November for 3 years prior to or after each RWC. The NZ 2011 semi-final win and 2000 Olympics opening ceremony were also analysed. There were 281 ± 14 and 3313 ± 379 cardiac admissions in the exposure and control periods. The semi-final loss in 2003 was associated with a 50% (p < 0.01) increase in pooled heart failure admissions and a 20% (p < 0.05) increase in pooled acute coronary syndromes admissions. Increases in heart failure were specific to women with a two-fold increase on match day and 2-days post (p < 0.01). There was no increase in male heart failure admissions but arrhythmias increased 2.6 times (p < 0.01) 1-day after losing the 2003 semi-final. In contrast, admissions were typically lower after the 2011 semi-final win and Olympics opening ceremony. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to find a relationship between hospital admissions for heart failure in women and a major sporting event. Preventive health measures should be considered in fans with cardiovascular disease or at high risk of cardiovascular events during sporting events. Winning or losing does matter.
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Olsen et al. (2014) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular events. Watching major sporting events (Rugby World Cup matches) vs. Equivalent days in October or November for 3 years prior to or after each RWC was evaluated on Pooled heart failure admissions (50% increase, p=<0.01). Watching the New Zealand All Blacks lose the 2003 Rugby World Cup semi-final was associated with a 50% increase in heart failure admissions (p<0.01) and a 20% increase in ACS admissions (p<0.05).
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