Delays in Emergency Care and Mortality during Major U.S. Marathons
Anupam B. Jena, M.D., Ph.D., N. Clay Mann, Ph.D., Leia N. Wedlund, and Andrew Olenski, B.S.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1614073
Target:
11 largest U.S. urban marathons during the period from 2002 through 2012
Using several data sources to reach necessary information
Funded by the National Institutes of Health.
P: persons who had a relatively low likelihood of marathon participation (i.e.Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age who were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest)
E: Marathon date, affected district
C1: non-marathon date
C2: Marathon date, near but unaffected district
O: 30-day mortality after admission
Results
30-day mortality was significantly higher on marathon dates in marathon affected hospitals.
But why? The ambulance is running late! on mararhon dates.