Introduction

Athletes deliberately expose themselves to extreme environments (such as high altitude mountaineering and deep-sea diving) and physical challenges (from weight lifting to marathon running), which may give rise to the manifestation of rare cardiac conditions, or cause sudden death (SD). Indeed, the renowned Athenian long distance runner Pheidippides suffered SD in 490 BC after running from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce the great victory of the Greeks over the invaders.

An analysis of the very dissimilar physical and environmental conditions to which athletes are exposed, and related health risks, is beyond the scope of this chapter and will not be conducted. Instead, we will focus on SD from cardiac causes.

Incidence

Sudden cardiac death

It is commonly understood, and substantiated by clinical evidence, that regular moderate physical exercise has beneficial cardiovascular effects. Several prospective epidemiological studies consistently associate exercise with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

The incidence of SCD in adolescents and young adults (here defined as the age group <35 years) is about 1 in 100 000 per year; this is 100 times less than in the older population (1 in 1000 per year; Fig. 65.1). Predominant causes of SCD in athletes change with age. In those over 35 years of age, the most common etiology is atherosclerotic CAD, often severe and diffuse, even in individuals without known risk factors or symptoms. In contrast, in younger athletes, a variety of cardiac diseases, largely congenital and often rare, account for the majority of SCD.