Cardiac arrest rarer in athletes than general population, but more common in male athletes

SHAH ALAM - Cardiac arrest is relatively rare among athletes, with an occurrence rate of about one to three cases per 100,000, but it is more prevalent among male athletes.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), though a rare occurrence, is even less common among athletes than the general population.

However, within this group, male athletes are more frequently affected.

Taylor’s University Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences senior lecturer Dr Aishah Mohd Hafiz said SCA occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating or starts beating irregularly and rapidly in a chaotic manner.

This, she said is known as ventricular fibrillation.

"This disruption prevents sufficient blood from circulating throughout the body, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. It is important to note that while a heart attack can cause cardiac arrest, SCA is not necessarily a heart attack.

"SCA is actually quite common, with about 1,000 cases per day worldwide, meaning every emergency department is likely to handle at least one case of cardiac arrest occurring in public.

"However, SCA is less common among athletes, occurring at a rate of about one to three athletes per 100,000," she said.

Despite its rarity in athletes, Aishah said the visibility of such events has increased due to social media, especially in popular sports.

For instance, she said the Asian community, frequently watched badminton, where such incidents have become more noticeable.

She said this during Sinar Daily's Sports Matters podcast.

"Similarly, our community enjoys football. In 2003, a footballer tragically suffered a cardiac arrest during a match and did not survive.

"Another footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers FC named Fabrice Muamba experienced a cardiac arrest in 2012, but survived after approximately 70 minutes of resuscitation both on the field and at the hospital," she said.

She said in young athletes, SCA often stemmed from structural or electrical conduction problems in the heart.

In older athletes, particularly those over 30, heart attacks were a more frequent cause, she added.

She said it can be quite shocking because people tend to think of young and fit athletes as epitomes of health, seemingly immune to such serious conditions.

However, she said certain underlying conditions may have gone undiagnosed in this group.

This, she said did not mean that exercise was bad.

For the general population, Aishah said regular exercise reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes and increases longevity.

"However, if someone who has not exercised before suddenly decides to engage in intense physical activity, they are at higher risk for SCA.

"The key is to start slowly and get assessed before beginning any new exercise regimen. While the rate of SCA in athletes is relatively low, high-profile incidents, like the recent case of China's badminton player Zhang Zhijie, can make it seem more common.

"This should not deter people from exercising, as the overall benefits far outweigh the risks," she said.