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Cited by 84Sports injuries and preventionCardiovascular Effects of ExerciseInjury Epidemiology and Prevention

Epidemiology of Sudden Death in Young, Competitive Athletes Due to Blunt Trauma

Thomas, Mathew, Haas, Tammy S., Doerer, Joseph J., Hodges, James S., Aicher, Brittany O., Garberich, Ross F., Mueller, Frederick O., Cantu, Robert C. +1 more·2011·Pediatrics
DOI 10.1542/peds.2010-2743
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sudden deaths of young competitive athletes are highly visible events that have a substantial effect on families and communities. Recent attention has focused predominantly on cardiovascular causes, and less on traumatic organ damage. OBJECTIVE: To define the clinical profile, epidemiology, and frequency of trauma-related deaths in young US athletes. METHODS: We analyzed the 30-year US National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes (1980–2009) by using systematic identification and tracking strategies. RESULTS: Of 1827 deaths of athletes aged 21 years or younger, 261 (14%) were caused by trauma-related injuries, usually involving the head and/or neck (mean: 16 ± 2 years; 90% male) in 22 sports. The highest number of events in a single year was 16 (1986), with an average of 9 per year throughout 30 years. The mortality rate was 0.11 in 100 000 participations (95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.15). The largest number of deaths was in football (148 [57%]), including 17 high school athletes who sustained concussions shortly before fatal head trauma (“second-impact syndrome”). Football deaths were more frequent in defensive players, although the single most common position involved was running back (61% of offensive players). CONCLUSIONS: In a large community-based national registry, sudden deaths caused by blunt trauma in young athletes aged 21 years or younger were relatively uncommon with 16 or fewer per year, about fourfold less than cardiovascular deaths. These fatalities were most frequent in football, and an important proportion of deaths after head blows in high school football were associated with a recent history of symptomatic concussion.

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  • The mortality rate in the US National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes was 0.11 in 100,000 participants (95% confidence interval 0.08-0.15).

    “The mortality rate was 0.11 in 100,000 participants (95 % confidence interval 0.08–0.15)”

    From The neuropathology of sport (2014) · cites this paper as [181]

  • Analysis of the 30-year US National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes from 1980 to 2009 found 1,827 deaths in athletes aged 21 years or younger, including 261 (14%) due to trauma, most often to the head and neck.

    “Analysis of the 30-year US National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes from 1980 to 2009 found 1,827 deaths in athletes aged 21 years or younger (mean 16 – 2 years; 90 % male) including 261 (14 %) due to trauma, most often to the head and neck.”

    From The neuropathology of sport (2014) · cites this paper as [181]

  • The largest number of deaths in the US National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes was reported in American football (148 [57%]), including 17 high school athletes who sustained concussions shortly before a fatal head trauma (second-impact syndrome).

    “with the largest number of deaths reported in American football (148 [57 %]), including 17 high school athletes who sustained concussions shortly before a fatal head trauma (“second-impact syndrome”) [181].”

    From The neuropathology of sport (2014) · cites this paper as [181]

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Authors
Thomas, M., Haas, T. S., Doerer, J. J., Hodges, J. S., Aicher, B. O., Garberich, R. F., Mueller, F. O., Cantu, R. C., & Maron, B. J.
Affiliations
  • Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and
  • Emerson Hospital (US)
ORCID
Venue
Pediatrics
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Published
2011-07-01
Volume
128
Issue
1
Pages
e1-e8
ISSN
  • 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-4275
DOI
10.1542/peds.2010-2743
OpenAlex
W2113945221
Cited by
84
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 17
FWCI
13.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
Keywords
sudden death, youth athletes, blunt trauma, traumatic death, traumatic brain injury, concussion, second impact syndrome, football, mortality rates, high school athletes, sports injuries
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Death, Sudden, Female, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, Wounds, Nonpenetrating, Athletes

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