PREVALENCE OF RISK FACTORS FOR SPORTS-RELATED SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH AMONG ACTIVE BAHRAINI POPULATION

M.M. Alrayes^1,2, M.A. Husain³

¹University of Bahrain, College of Health and Sport Sciences, Manama, Bahrain, ²Shaikh Jabber Health Center, Physiotherapy, Barbar, Bahrain, ³University of Bahrain, Physical Education, Manama, Bahrain

Background: Sport-Related Sudden Cardiac Death (SSCD) is a leading cause of mortality in the athletic population. It is substantially higher in specific populations such as males, African-Americans, athletes, and people with genetic and familial factors. Cardiovascular pre-participation screening can be lifesaving. Locally, the total number of reported SSCD cases in Bahrain between 2009 and 2019 was 24 cases (less than 0.001% of the population). Nevertheless, to the best of the researcher's knowledge, there are no officially released data or standardized recommendations about the screening protocols in Bahrain or the local region.

Purpose: The current study aims to investigate the prevalence of SSCD risk factors in Bahrain by developing a self-administered screening tool.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study using an online self-administered questionnaire to explore the presence of SSCD-related risk factors across the Bahraini population. The questionnaire is designed based on several international questionnaires related to pre-participation screening. It aims to identify risk factors, signs, and symptoms of SSCD, family history, drugs, and supplements. Moreover, it was validated by obtaining the opinions of six professional experts in the field. Moreover, a pilot study was performed on ten licensed physiotherapists.

Results: 421 individuals participated in the questionnaire (age range 15-69), with most males (70%). About 83% of the participants did not perform any medical examinations before physical activity, 9% always experienced tiredness and shortness of breath during exercise compared to their peers, 8% reported irregular heartbeats while exercising, 5% complained of lightheadedness during exercise, and 3% always have chest pain, tightness, and discomfort during exercise. Moreover, 21% of them reported a history of familial death due to a heart condition before 50, 24% have a family history of SCAs, 26% have a family history of cardiac conditions, and 25% have a family history of SSCD-related signs and symptoms.

Conclusions: Using the developed questionnaire was useful in measuring the prevalence of local SSCD risk factors which could be the first step in the detection and prevention of SSCD.

Implications: The questionnaire can set the foundation for a national screening program starting with detecting a population with a high risk through a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, re-designing the questionnaire to be a smartphone application is recommended to be easily accessible. Sports clubs, gyms, and leisure centers can benefit from this questionnaire as a mandatory screening tool before accepting any client. The importance of developing and implementing the EAPs that focus on the availability of AEDs and the application of BLS and CPR must be taken as a high-priority recommendation.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding was received for this research.

Keywords:
Athletes death
Cardiomyopathy
Screening program

Topics:
Sport & sports injuries
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Globalisation: health systems, policies & strategies

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: University of Bahrain

Committee: College of Health and Sport Sciences Research Committee

Ethics number: 10/2020-21