Key result
COVID-19 pandemic shows no increase in sudden cardiac arrest or death among football players.
Why the study?
It is unclear whether the number of sudden cardiac death and survived sudden cardiac arrest has increased among football players during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic increase the burden of sudden cardiac death and sudden cardiac arrest in football players?
Observational (n=834)
Yes
Did the COVID-19 pandemic increase the burden of sudden cardiac death and sudden cardiac arrest in football players?
Absolute Event Rate: 380% vs 454%
The COVID-19 pandemic did not lead to an increased burden of sudden cardiac death or sudden cardiac arrest, including cases related to myocarditis, among football players worldwide.
No increase in sudden cardiac events among football players during COVID-19; leaves open broader athlete risk assessment.
INTRODUCTION: It is unclear whether the number of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and survived sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) has increased among football players during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to compare the SCD/SCA burden between the pre-pandemic period and COVID-19 pandemic in football players worldwide. METHODS: The COVID-19 pandemic and an equivalent pre-pandemic period (each lasting 1151 days) were analyzed for SCD/SCA by extracting data from the prospective FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Sudden Death Registry. Particular focus was placed on cardiac diseases acquired through the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, such as myocarditis and coronary artery disease (CAD), potentially leading to SCD/SCA. RESULTS: There were 454 SCD/SCA (survival rate: 24%) and 380 SCD/SCA (survival rate: 27%) during the pre-pandemic period and COVID-19 pandemic, respectively (p = 0.27). In the pre-pandemic period, out of 191 confirmed and suspected diagnoses, there were 6 (3%) cases of myocarditis and 69 (36%) cases of CAD and during the pandemic out of 136 confirmed and suspected diagnoses, there was 1 (1%) case of myocarditis and 58 (43%) cases of CAD. CONCLUSION: The burden of SCD/SCA, particularly myocarditis and CAD, in football players worldwide seemingly has not been higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than during a comparable period before.
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Ukaj et al. (2024) conducted an observational in Sudden cardiac death (SCD) and survived sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) (n=834). COVID-19 pandemic period vs. Pre-pandemic period was evaluated on Number of SCD/SCA cases. The number of sudden cardiac deaths and survived sudden cardiac arrests in football players worldwide was not higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (380 cases) compared to an equivalent pre-pandemic period (454 cases).
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