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Latest Research
Research Details
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| Research Title: |
Heat-related injuries resulting in hospitalisation in Australian sport. |
| Type of Research: |
Publication Articles |
| Category: |
Preventative Techniques
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| Keywords: |
Heat, Hydration, Older people, triathalon, running, lawn bowls, cricket, golf
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| Author(s): |
Driscoll T R, Cripps R and Brotherhood J R |
| Author(s) Bio Box: |
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| Release Date: |
12 March 2010 |
| Research Summary/Text: |
Heat-related illness associated with sport is of concern in Australia, where people may engage in physical activity in high temperatures and high humidity. The heat-associated conditions for which people are likely to be admitted to hospital are heat stroke, collapse with hyperthermia and severe dehydration. Cases were identified from Australian hospital admissions data for the two year period 2002-2004. Rates of heat-related illness were then calculated using sports participation data from a 2003 population survey.
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| Research Objectives: |
The aim of the study was to summarise the extent and characteristics of cases of illness due to environmental heat, significant enough to result in hospitalisation, and arising during sporting activity in Australia.
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| Research Outcomes: |
Of the 148 cases of heat-related illness requiring admission to hospital that were identified, 68% were male. Diagnosis included heatstroke and sunstroke, heat syncope (fainting), heat exhaustion – anhydrotic and unspecified. The overall rate of hospitalisation per sporting participant was 5.2 cases per million. The rate varied considerably between sports and the age of participant. People aged 65 years or older had a rate of hospitalisation twice as high as that of people younger. The sports with the highest rate of hospitalisation due to heat-related illness were triathalon, softball (in the study period there was one significant event that caused this high rate), lawn bowls, cricket, running and golf. As would be expected, most cases (64%) occurred in the summer months.
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| Research Implications: |
This study found that hospitalisation for heat-related illness due to participating in sport is not common in Australia, however the study does not account for the significant amount of illness that is treated on-site, for example during community running events.
Target groups for intervention to reduce the risk of heat-induced illness include people participating in sustained high-level exercise such as triathalons and running, and people (most commonly men) exposed to radiant heat from the sun for long periods such as during lawn bowls, golf and cricket. Older people are particularly at risk due to effects of aging and medication on thermoregulatory control.
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| Availability of Full Research Paper: |
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