PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Martin Schwellnus
AU  - Nicola Sewry
AU  - Mats Borjesson
AU  - Sonja Swanevelder
AU  - Esme Jordaan
TI  - 068 Environmental factors, training factors, race pace and distance, older age, and metabolic/endocrine disease are independent risk factors associated with adverse events in runners: a SAFER study in 76654 starters
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2021-IOC.64
DP  - 2021 Nov 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - A28--A28
VI  - 55
IP  - Suppl 1
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/Suppl_1/A28.1.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/Suppl_1/A28.1.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2021 Nov 01; 55
AB  - Background Pre-race medical screening at endurance events has recently been suggested, but there are limited data on the use of pre-race questionnaire data to predict adverse events (defined as medical encounters or not finishing a race).Objective To determine if risk factors, that are identified from a pre-race medical screening questionnaire, are associated with adverse events during a distance running event.Design Prospective study, with cross-sectional analyses.Setting 2012–2015 Two Oceans marathon races (21.1 km, 56 km), South Africa.Patients (or Participants) 76654 race entrants (21.1 km and 56 km race).Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Upon entering the race, all entrants completed a pre-race medical screening questionnaire. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, runners received a targeted educational intervention to reduce medical encounters (ME). All individual race day data was collected, and this included AE data as follows: runners that did-not-finish (DNF) the race (collected from the race organisers), and runners who had a medical encounter (ME) (collected by race day medical staff).Main Outcome Measurements Using a multiple regression model, we report the prevalence ratio (PR: 95% CI) of risk factors associated with the adverse event rate (AE) (defined as DNF or ME), using race day data and individual pre-race medical screening data.Results Independent risk factors associated with AE in the Two Oceans Races were: males >45years (1.2: 1.0–1.3; p=0.0210), females >55years (1.5: 1.1–2.1; p=0.0051), slower training pace (increase of 1min/km, 1.2: 1.1–1.2; p<0.0001), increased training frequency per week (increase of 2 times/week, 1.2: 1.1–1.3; p=0.0017), and a history of metabolic/endocrine disease (1.6: 1.2–2.1; p=0.0006).Conclusions Environmental and training factors, older age, race pace and distance, and history of metabolic/endocrine disease were independent risk factors associated with adverse events in a mass-participation distance running event. These factors could be considered when developing and implementing pre-race education material that is disseminated to participants prior to the event.