Table 2 Studies on cases of death from cardiovascular diseases in swimming
From: Hypothesized mechanisms of death in swimming: a systematic review
Author | Year | Type of study | LOE | Findings | Critical evaluation/comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windsor | 2020 | Case Series (n = 2) | 4 | Cardiovascular pathology was found to be a cause or contributing factor in half of all deaths | The irregularity of recording procedures and the limitation of time led to a smaller sample size and a higher death rate |
Harris | 2017 | Case Series (n = 27) | 4 | 27 of 61 decedents with autopsy reports (44%) had clinically relevant cardiovascular abnormalities, most frequently atherosclerotic coronary disease(n = 18) | Incomplete identification and underestimated events. Pre-race medical history is unknown in most cases |
Kurosu | 2016 | Case Series (n = 1) | 4 | Anomalous origin of coronary artery (AOCA) was a rare cause of death in sporting | The ages investigated were limited to 31 years and below |
Škavić | 2015 | Case Series (n = 1) | 4 | The death rates in elderly Croatian women due to swimming reached 0.25 | The number of cases was too small and limited information was available at autopsy |
Anästhesie | 2015 | Case Report (n = 1) | 4 | Abnormal left coronary artery (ALCA) causes sudden cardiac death | The cause of coronary artery abnormalities is unknown |
Durakovic | 2012 | Case Series (n = 17) | 4 | The leading cause of death from swimming is organic heart disease | It is not easy to define exactly what is an exertion-related death |
Duraković | 2011 | Case Series (n = 6) | 4 | CHD in elders is a usual underlying cause of sudden cardiac death during immediately after physical activity | More efficient medical screening systems will be needed |
Cedrone | 2010 | Case Report (n = 1) | 4 | Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is an risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young adults | The incidence of SCD in young people is not high enough for extensive, wide-scale examinations |
Tester | 2009 | Case Series (n = 28) | 4 | Nearly 30% of the victims of swimming-related drowning hosted a cardiac channel mutation | The difference in mutation detection rates among drowning victims of different ages was not statistically significant, possibly due to the small sample size |
Durakovic | 2008 | Case Report (n = 1) | 4 | The cause of death for that man was myocarditis | In specific cases, radionuclide studies, cardiac catheterization and magnetic resonance imaging may be needed |
Duraković | 2004 | Case Report (n = 1) | 4 | The mechanism of these five exercise-induced sudden death events may be malignant ventricular arrhythmia | It is difficult to define exactly what sudden death caused by exercise is |
Ackerman | 1999 | Case Report (n = 1) | 4 | The postmortem identification of a novel mutation in the ion-channel gene KVLQT1, causing the long-QT syndrome, in a sample of the woman’s myocardium | It is not yet known whether mutations in cardiac ion channels underlie a substantial number of unexplained drownings |
Myrianthefs | 1997 | Case Report (n = 1) | 4 | Ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death caused by exercise appears to be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and can be triggered by swimming | With only one family case, the sample is too small to draw conclusions |
Janataa | 1994 | Case Report (n = 1) | 4 | Congenital anomaly (an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery) should be considered in cases of major cardiac events in young people | The exact etiology and mechanism of sudden death are not known |