[PDF] Incidence and Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death in - Springer

How common is sudden death in sports?

• The overall burden of sports-related sudden death was 4.6 cases per million population per year, with 6% of cases occurring in young competitive athletes. Sensitivity analyses used to address suspected underreporting demonstrated an incidence ranging from 5 to 17 new cases per million population per year.

How many athletes die a year?

• The International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, studied documents from international data banks from 1966 to 2004. Those documents indicate 1,101 sudden deaths in athletes under 35 years of age, an average of 29 athletes per year, the sports with the highest incidence being soccer and basketball. ( NIH Document)

What is the survival rate for sudden cardiac death at college sports?

• Reported survival to hospital discharge in this university athletic department setting for sudden cardiac death was 0% for students, 75% for staff, 57% for fans, and 61% overall.