Abstract 3092: Risk Associated with Sports Competition: Is Lacrosse Really a Uniquely Dangerous Sport?
Background. Sudden deaths in young competitive athletes are tragic events having great personal impact on physicians and lay communities. These deaths occur in a wide variety of sports due largely to unsuspected cardiovascular disease or commotio cordis. Lacrosse is now the most rapidly growing sport in the U.S., presently with 500,000 competitors. The risks specifically associated with participation in lacrosse have been the subject of substantial media attention, implying that this sport may be unsafe relative to other youth sports. However, systematically assembled data in this regard are not available. Methods. The U.S. Sudden Death in Young Athletes Registry, 1980 –2008, was accessed and 22 sudden deaths (including 4 survivors of cardiac arrest) were identified in high school and college competitive lacrosse participants. Results. Ages were 13–22 years (mean 17±2y); all were male. Nineteen athletes died on the athletic field and 3 during sedentary activities. Ten of the 22 athlete
