Marathon Deaths Down: Cardiac Safety Improvements
- despite a surge in marathon participation across the U.S.,a new study indicates that the risk of death from heart attack during these races has significantly declined.
- Published in JAMA, the findings reveal that while the incidence of cardiac arrests among marathon runners has remained relatively stable, the survival rate has doubled. This means that...
- Kim noted the importance of this follow-up research, stating, "We continue to see media reports about unfortunate cases of cardiac arrest during long distance running events.
Good news for runners! The death rates from cardiac arrest during marathons have plummeted by 50%. this significant drop highlights the crucial advances in cardiac safety, emphasizing the critical role of immediate intervention, specifically CPR and swift access to defibrillators for runners. A new study published in JAMA shows that while the instances of cardiac arrest remain steady, more marathon participants are surviving. Researchers identified key factors, including gender and race distance, affecting cardiac events. Increased awareness within the running community also plays a key role. news Directory 3 provides resources about health. CPR training and defibrillator placement are becoming commonplace. Discover what’s next in preventative measures that will further protect runners.
Survival Rates Soar for Marathon Runners Experiencing Cardiac Arrest
Updated June 19, 2025
despite a surge in marathon participation across the U.S.,a new study indicates that the risk of death from heart attack during these races has significantly declined. Jonathan Kim, an associate professor at Emory School of medicine, led the research, which builds upon his initial 2012 investigation into sudden cardiac arrests during long-distance running events. The study highlights the critical role of immediate intervention in saving lives.
Published in JAMA, the findings reveal that while the incidence of cardiac arrests among marathon runners has remained relatively stable, the survival rate has doubled. This means that fewer runners experiencing cardiac arrest are succumbing to it.
Kim noted the importance of this follow-up research, stating, “We continue to see media reports about unfortunate cases of cardiac arrest during long distance running events. But, has the incidence of these events changed? Have there been changes in the most common causes of cardiac arrest? what are the factors associated with death and survival? It was a novel question to ask 13 years after our first analysis, and an important one because recreational running continues to increase in popularity.”
Between 2010 and 2023, over 29 million individuals completed marathons in the U.S., tripling the figures from the preceding decade. Compiling data proved challenging, as no central registry exists for race-related cardiac incidents. Kim’s team gathered data from various sources, including direct contact with race organizers and extensive media reviews.
Researchers also conducted thorough online searches to identify and contact cardiac arrest survivors or their families, enabling them to create detailed case profiles. Kim confirmed that “The vast majority of cases were identifiable by public search engines. And all of the deaths were as well.”
The analysis revealed that while cardiac arrest rates remained consistent at approximately 0.60 per 100,000 participants (compared to 0.54 in the earlier period), the death rate plummeted by 50%, from 0.39 to 0.19 per 100,000. Cardiac arrests continue to be more prevalent among men and in full marathons compared to half marathons. This highlights the importance of understanding the role of gender and race distance in cardiac arrest incidents during marathons.
Kim attributes the improved survival rates to increased awareness of cardiac risks within the running community and the enhanced availability of emergency services. he emphasized the significance of immediate CPR and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), noting that “What we found was that every one of those people got hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the vast majority also had immediate access to an automated external defibrillator. That’s the difference.”
The survival rate now mirrors that of other public spaces, such as airports and casinos, where defibrillators are readily available, leading to similar reductions in cardiac arrest fatalities.
Kim advocates for wider CPR training among race participants and strategic placement of defibrillators along race routes. He also stresses the importance of identifying vulnerable individuals before thay participate in races. This proactive approach can definitely help mitigate the role of preventable factors in cardiac arrest during marathons.
Kim stated, “These are more often perhaps preventable events. Being able to identify people, more commonly older individuals with unrecognized cardiovascular risk factors, doesn’t mean they can’t run a race. Rather, it affords the prospect to improve primary preventive cardiovascular care and potentially further reduce the risk of cardiac arrest during these events. The incidence of sudden cardiac arrest during long-distance races hasn’t changed in over 20 years. I think this is an important arena of future research.”
what’s next
Future research will focus on identifying high-risk individuals and implementing preventative measures to further reduce cardiac arrest incidents during long-distance races. Continued emphasis on CPR training and AED accessibility remains crucial.