Close encounters of the US kind: illness and injury among US athletes at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games

Abstract

AimTo describe injury and illness incidence during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games (WOG) by Team USA.MethodsA descriptive observational study. We used registered Team USA Olympic athletes’ electronic medical records to review preparticipation health histories and medical encounters immediately prior to and throughout the 2018 WOG. Medical encounters were defined as all medical services provided by a healthcare provider, including evaluation, treatment and prophylactic services. All medical conditions were described according to International Olympic Committee injury and illness reporting criteria.ResultsTeam USA included 134 men and 108 women, aged 18–39 years, who represented 17 sport federations. The 47 Team USA medical staff documented 1744 medical encounters on 242 registered athletes (7.2 medical encounters per athlete). Forty-seven illnesses (194.2/1000 athletes) and 32 time loss injuries (132.2/1000 athletes) were recorded during the Games.ConclusionsAn injury surveillance programme consisting of an electronic preparticipation health history and surveillance of medical encounters during the WOG was used to describe the health status of Team USA. We noted limitations to the surveillance process that can be addressed at future events.

Sports injuries and illnesses at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games: a prospective study of 1783 athletes from 79 countries

“…[7,10,39] Respiratory system illness was most common, and the illness risk higher for females compared with their male counterparts, in the present study, consistent with previous findings from both winter youth and senior OGs, [5,[7][8][9] and regional Olympian studies from Great Britain, Australia and the US. [40][41][42] Illness risk was also greater for athletes within larger NOC's (>99 athletes) compared with the smaller NOCs (<10). Training loads, travel, exercise-induced immune suppression and poor nutrition are frequently cited as risk factors for illness in athletes.…”

Non–SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Viruses in Athletes at Major Winter Sport Events, 2021 and 2022

“…E lite athletes have an increased risk for contracting acute respiratory infections (ARIs) during major winter sport events (1)(2)(3)(4)(5), which often occur during viral peaks in the community. Many of the athletes' behavioral factors during events, such as using public transportation, crowding, using group accommodation, and close socializing activities, may all increase an athlete's susceptibility to acute respiratory viral infection (6).…”

International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus statement on acute respiratory illness in athletes part 1: acute respiratory infections

“…It is important to note that a positive PCR test does not necessarily reflect active virus replication, and associations between viral load and infectiousness remain unclear 33 77. Sensitive and specific molecular test platforms, as well as fast, automated molecular point-of-care tests are becoming increasingly applicable for clinical use in SEM at international competitions such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games 39 40 78. The need for routine expensive comprehensive pathogen identification of ARinf is debatable as a specific therapeutic intervention is only available for influenza.…”

“…There are several methods to detect the pathogens causing the ARinf by collecting a Games. (39,40,90) The need for routine expensive comprehensive pathogen identification of ARinf is debatable as a specific therapeutic intervention is only available for influenza.…”