Sudden Cardiac Death during Mountain Hiking and Downhill Skiing

Abstract

To the Editor: Previous studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of sudden cardiac death associated with exercise 1 . However, few data are available regarding the risk of sudden cardiac death during participation in mountain sports. We therefore kept a registry of such deaths during mountain hiking and downhill skiing in Austria from 1985 through 1991. All deaths associated with mountain sports were recorded by qualified members of the Ministry of the Interior. The total number of people involved in mountain sports and the frequency of such involvement were determined by an Austrian market-research institute and from records of the numbers… © 1993, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.