Automated external defibrillator and emergency action plan preparedness amongst masters athletes

Sudden cardiac arrest/death (SCA/D) is the leading medical cause of death in athletes. Masters athletes (≥35 years old) are increasing in numbers and are responsible for the vast majority of sport-related SCDs. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and emergency action plans (EAPs) have been shown to unequivocally reduce SCD, however, their prevalence in masters athletics remains unknown. We sought to identify the perceived AED accessibility and EAP preparedness amongst a group of masters athletes. A 40-item survey was sent to 735 master athletes identified through the Masters Athlete Screening Study. Participants were athletes with no known significant cardiac history. The survey inquired on the availability and location of AEDs within exercise settings, the presence of EAPs, and participants’ cardiac concerns. Sixty-eight percent of athletes completed the survey. Ninety-seven percent and 99% of athletes believed CPR and AEDs were effective at saving lives, respectively. Thirty-eight percent of athletes were aware of an AED in proximity to where they exercise, with 40% aware of one available during competition events, and 28% during training events. Only 10% of athletes were aware of an EAP active in their place of exercise. Half of the athletes perceive their risk of cardiac arrest during exercise to be ≤0.5 in 100,000. These findings indicate that nearly all athletes believe CPR and AED are effective at saving lives, but only a minority are aware of an AED near their place of exercise, with even fewer aware of an active EAP. Master athletes underestimate their own risk for exercise-related cardiac events, affirming the importance of educating masters athletes on their increased cardiac risk and the importance of EAPs.

心搏骤停/心源性猝死（Sudden cardiac arrest/death, SCA/D）是运动员首要的致死性内科病因。大师级运动员（Masters athletes，年龄≥35岁）的数量持续增长，且在运动相关心源性猝死病例中占绝大多数。现有研究已明确证实，自动体外除颤器（Automated external defibrillators, AEDs）与应急行动预案（Emergency action plans, EAPs）可有效降低心源性猝死的发生风险，但二者在大师级体育运动场景中的普及程度仍不明确。本研究旨在调研某大师级运动员队列中，受试者对自动体外除颤器可及性的认知及应急行动预案的筹备情况。研究团队通过大师级运动员筛查研究招募了735名符合条件的大师级运动员，并向其发放了一份包含40个问题的调查问卷。纳入本次研究的受试者均无明确的严重心脏病史。问卷内容涵盖运动场所内自动体外除颤器的可获得性与摆放位置、应急行动预案的存在情况，以及受试者自身的心脏相关健康顾虑。最终共有68%的运动员完成了本次调研。结果显示，97%与99%的运动员分别认为心肺复苏（CPR）与自动体外除颤器可有效挽救生命。38%的运动员知晓其日常运动场所附近配备有自动体外除颤器；其中，40%的运动员知晓赛事期间可使用自动体外除颤器，28%的运动员知晓训练期间可使用该设备。仅有10%的运动员知晓其运动场所内存在生效的应急行动预案。半数运动员认为其在运动过程中发生心搏骤停的风险≤0.5/100000。本研究结果表明，尽管几乎所有运动员均认可心肺复苏与自动体外除颤器的救生效用，但仅有少数群体知晓其运动场所附近配备有自动体外除颤器，而知晓存在生效应急行动预案的人群占比更低。大师级运动员普遍低估了自身发生运动相关心脏事件的风险，这进一步证实了针对大师级运动员开展心脏风险升高相关教育以及普及应急行动预案的重要性。