All heart: HKU researchers offer first-time marathon runners free check-up in bid to reduce cardiac arrests
First-time marathon runners are being offered free screening for heart disease by a University of Hong Kong research team in a bid to reduce the number of competitors who suffer cardiac arrest or even drop dead during long-distance races.
The voluntary effort is targeting inexperienced runners because they are likely to develop 50 per cent more complications than experienced participants during a marathon, cardiologist Professor Tse Hung-fat said yesterday, citing studies.
Tse said his team also hoped to build a three-year database on the research to allow the government to consider whether a mandatory health check or training would be required for future marathon participants.
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"We also hope to raise public awareness of the risk of triggering cardiovascular diseases during acute and intense exercise like running a marathon," Tse said.
"The risk is even higher to those people who do not participate in regular exercise, but decide to join the intense race."
One participant died during the 10km race, while 1,152 runners sought medical help during this year's Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, a highly popular annual event, for which there is intense competition for places. Between 2002 and 2012, at least nine runners sustained serious health damage due to heart problems during the event. Two of them died.
Tse said those who suffered sudden cardiac arrest during marathons were usually men in their 50s. Those who are obese, have hypertension or have a family history of heart disease are also considered to be in the high-risk group.
The voluntary screening, sponsored by the Sun Chieh Yeh Heart Foundation, welcomes first-timers who are joining the marathon, in particular those who are considered to be at high risk.
Dr Jo Jo Hai Siu-han, clinical assistant professor in HKU's medicine department, said the screening consisted of three parts - an online questionnaire, an electrocardiogram along with urine and blood tests, and an exercise stress test in which participants have to run on a treadmill to measure heart function.
If a participant shows symptoms of a heart condition in any one of the three tests, the doctor will refer the person for a further check-up. Some may then be advised not to take part in the marathon.
