Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest related to exercise in the general population: Incidence, survival and bystander response

Background Regular exercise is known to prevent cardiovascular disorders, but it may also trigger acute cardiac events. This study examined the incidence, prognosis, and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) related to exercise in the general population of Denmark. Methods This retrospective cohort study examined all the OHCAs in the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry from 2016 to 2019. OHCA related to exercise was identified in a nationwide electronic database and coupled to the patient register. Descriptive statistics were used in combination with a multivariate logistic regression model to assess predefined factors. Results A total of 20,470 OHCAs were identified, of which 459 (2.2%) were related to exercise. Most were male (75.3%), with a median age of 61 years. Further, 95% of exercise-related OHCA received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, compared to 77.4% in non-exercise-related OHCA (p < 0.001), and 38.3% received defibrillation by bystanders versus 7.5% in the non-exercise group (p < 0.001). Exercise-related OHCAs had a 30-day survival rate of 57.7% compared to 12.6% in the non-exercise group, yielding an adjusted odds ratio of 5.56. The 30-day survival rate of exercise-related subjects aged 15–35 years was 80.0%, compared to 25.0% in the non-exercise group. When comparing sports categories, team sports were associated with the greatest chance of survival (odds ratio of 18.5 versus a non-exercise odds ratio of 0.09). Conclusion Exercise-related OHCA has a low incidence and is related to a significantly better prognosis when compared to non-exercise OHCA. Furthermore, many patients experiencing exercise-related OHCA received defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation by bystanders. These findings could help plan and execute campaigns and education.