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Effects on health following collapse during marathon running
ISRCTN ISRCTN74719029
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
Public title Effects on health following collapse during marathon running
Scientific title Effects on health following collapse during marathon running: a prospective observational study
Acronym N/A
Serial number at source v1.0
Study hypothesis Marathon runners who collapse during the marathon may experience physical and neuro-cognitive symptoms which may persist for several months. Little is known about these or the biochemical changes seen following a collapse
Lay summary Background and study aims
To investigate the immediate and short term effects on health for runners who collapse during Marathons. Marathon runners may collapse for a variety of reasons, including loss of muscle tone at the end of exercise (‘exercise associated collapse’), imbalances in the levels of salts in the blood, and exertional heat stroke (EHS). EHS is a life-threatening illness with a very high core body temperature, above 40 degree celsius, associated with abnormal brain function. Up to 10% of runners with EHS may die. Marathon runners may also experience a variety of symptoms, including confusion, memory and balance problems, for weeks after a marathon.
If a runner experiences EHS, the temperature should be reduced to normal as soon as possible. The progression of the disease is primarily related to the initial care provided to the casualty. Medical teams at the event itself are therefore recommended to immediately identify and treat these serious conditions to reduce the complications from the collapse. Basic blood test results should be immediately available to the clinical team. For every 10,000 marathon runners, approximately 20 ‘collapses’ will require intensive road-side assessment, monitoring and treatment by these teams. The majority of these cases will be able to be discharged home direct from the event, without the need for hospital treatment. If this medical service were unavailable at Marathons, then the local Emergency Department (ED) services would be required to treat these patients. The delay in treatment may cause additional complications. In the USA, patients with EHS are often admitted to hospital for 72 hours.
The medical team at the Brighton Marathon provides immediate treatment, invasive monitoring and point of care blood tests for all collapsed runners. If after a period of treatment and observation the medical team feels that the patient is safe to be discharged home, without the need for hospital admission, discharge advice and instructions are given. Collapsed runners are advised to see their general parctitioner (GP) within 48-72hrs for a test of their urine, and to repeat blood tests. This is to ensure that they haven’t developed short term kidney complications.
The aim of this study is to obtain blood results taken on the day and at follow-up as part of good practice. In addition we would ask the runner if they would be willing to complete a questionnaire to investigate any immediate and short-term physical, neurological and psychological effects following collapse during a marathon.

Who can participate?
Both male and female runners old enough to participate in the marathon who collapse at the 2012 Brighton marathon and require treatment by the on-site medical team and willing to participate in the study

What does the study involve?
The study will not change the participants treatment, but will ask if participants will give permission to the research team to check the records and analyse clinical information and investigations performed by the medical team at the marathon and by their GPs after the marathon. In addition the runner will be asked to fill in a short questionnaire asking questions about their health in the first week following the marathon and again at 3 months following the marathon.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants are unlikely to benefit directly from the study, but the information obtained will be used to gain more understanding about runners who collapse, and may improve treatment for runners in future marathons.
The same medical treatment and follow-up care will be provided whether runners are in the study or not. No extra blood tests are needed for the study. Runners in the study will only be required to complete 2 short questionnaires, which should not be hard for the runners. The results of the blood tests and the questionnaires will be anonymised.

Where is the study run from?
Worthing Hospital

When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The 2012 Brighton Marathon will be held on 15 April 2012, and participants will be identified on the day. They will be asked to participate in the study during the follow-up phone call 3 or 4 days after the marathon. The questionnaires will be sent out 1 week, and 3 months after the marathon.
Data collection is expected to be complete by mid-July 2012. Analysis is expected to be complete by August 2012. We expect that a final report will be available by September 2012.

Who is funding the study?
We expect the study to have minimal costs, which will be met by the research team and by Brighton Marathon.

Who is the main contact?
Helen Evans, Research Governance Manager
helen.evans@wsht.nhs.uk
Ethics approval Not provided at time of registration
Study design Observational prospective study
Countries of recruitment United Kingdom
Disease/condition/study domain Collapsed marathon runners
Participants - inclusion criteria Runners who collapse at 2012 Brighton marathon and require treatment by the on-site medical team
Participants - exclusion criteria Doe not meet inclusion criteria
Anticipated start date 15/04/2012
Anticipated end date 30/07/2012
Status of trial Ongoing
Patient information material Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Target number of participants 20
Interventions The runner will be asked to fill in a short questionnaire asking questions about their health in the first week following the marathon & again at 3 months following the marathon.
Primary outcome measure(s) Descriptive statistics to describe:
1. Demographics of runners who collapsed at the marathon including relevant marathon- training history, fluid & dietary management, comorbidities & medication history
2. Diagnosis and management required by the Intensive Care medical service at the marathon
3. Biochemical changes at the marathon & follow up
4. Health questionnaires at approximately 1 week & 3 months following the marathon
5. Any medical intervention at follow up required
Secondary outcome measure(s) No secondary outcome measures
Sources of funding Investigator initiated and funded (UK)
Trial website
Publications
Contact name Dr  Richard  Venn
  Address Western Hospitals NHS Trust
Worthing Hospital
Lyndhurst Road
  City/town Worthing
  Zip/Postcode BN11 2DH
  Country United Kingdom
Sponsor Sussex NHS Research Consortium (UK)
  Address c/o Helen Evans
Research Governance Manager
Sussex NHS Research Consortium
  City/town Worthing
  Zip/Postcode BN11 2DH
  Country United Kingdom
  Sponsor website: http://www.westernsussexhospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/worthing-hospital/
Date applied 04/12/2011
Last edited 16/01/2012
Date ISRCTN assigned 16/01/2012
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