Key result
Marathon running carries an exceedingly low SCD risk of ~1 in 114,000 finishers.
Why the study?
A recent cluster of sudden cardiac deaths in marathon runners raised concerns about the safety of long-distance running and competition.
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Reassures on minimal SCD risk for marathon runners; leaves open long-term relevance of transient post-race biomarker changes.
Sharlene M. Day (2010) conducted a review in Sudden cardiac death risk in athletes (n=4,447,154). Marathon running vs. General living or resting state was evaluated on Incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Marathon running is associated with a transient and exceedingly low risk of sudden cardiac death, with an estimated cumulative incidence of 1 in 114,000 finishers.
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