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Mortality in Different Mountain Sports Activities Primarily Practiced in the Summer Season—A Narrative Review

Author

Listed:
  • Hannes Gatterer

    (Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, EURAC Research, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
    H.G. and M.N. contributed equally.)

  • Martin Niedermeier

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    H.G. and M.N. contributed equally.)

  • Elena Pocecco

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Anika Frühauf

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Martin Faulhaber

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Austrian Society for Alpine and High-Altitude Medicine, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Verena Menz

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Johannes Burtscher

    (Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Markus Posch

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Gerhard Ruedl

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Martin Burtscher

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Austrian Society for Alpine and High-Altitude Medicine, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Millions of people engage in mountain sports activities worldwide. Although leisure-time physical activity is associated with significant health benefits, mountain sports activities also bear an inherent risk for injury and death. However, death risk may vary across various types of mountain sports activities. Epidemiological data represent an important basis for the development of preventive measures. Therefore, the aim of this review is to compare mortality rates and potential risk factors across different (summer) mountain sports activities. A comprehensive literature search was performed on the death risk (mortality) in mountain sports, primarily practiced during the summer season, i.e., mountain hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, trekking, rock, ice and high-altitude climbing. It was found that the death risk varies considerably between different summer mountain sports. Mortality during hiking, trekking and biking in the mountains was lower compared to that during paragliding, or during rock, ice or high-altitude climbing. Traumatic deaths were more common in activities primarily performed by young adults, whereas the number of deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases was higher in activities preferred by the elderly such as hiking and trekking. Preventive efforts must consider the diversity of mountain sports activities including differences in risk factors and practitioners and may more particularly focus on high-risk activities and high-risk individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannes Gatterer & Martin Niedermeier & Elena Pocecco & Anika Frühauf & Martin Faulhaber & Verena Menz & Johannes Burtscher & Markus Posch & Gerhard Ruedl & Martin Burtscher, 2019. "Mortality in Different Mountain Sports Activities Primarily Practiced in the Summer Season—A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3920-:d:276776
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mathias Ströhle & Ina Beeretz & Christopher Rugg & Simon Woyke & Simon Rauch & Peter Paal, 2019. "Canyoning Accidents in Austria from 2005 to 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Martin Niedermeier & Hannes Gatterer & Elena Pocecco & Anika Frühauf & Martin Faulhaber & Verena Menz & Johannes Burtscher & Markus Posch & Gerhard Ruedl & Martin Burtscher, 2019. "Mortality in Different Mountain Sports Activities Primarily Practiced in the Winter Season—A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Anika Frühauf & Martin Kopp & Martin Niedermeier, 2022. "Risk Factors for Accidents and Close Calls in Junior Freeriders, Adolescent Alpine Skiers and Adult Freeriders—A Comparison," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Elena Pocecco & Hamed Wafa & Johannes Burtscher & Peter Paal & Peter Plattner & Markus Posch & Gerhard Ruedl, 2022. "Mortality in Recreational Mountain-Biking in the Austrian Alps: A Retrospective Study over 16 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
    5. Martin Niedermeier & Claudia Kogler & Anika Frühauf & Martin Kopp, 2020. "Psychological Variables Related to Developmental Changes during Adolescence—A Comparison between Alpine and Non-Alpine Sport Participants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-10, October.
    6. Josef Niebauer & Martin Burtscher, 2021. "Sudden Cardiac Death Risk in Downhill Skiers and Mountain Hikers and Specific Prevention Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-7, February.
    7. Christopher Rugg & Laura Tiefenthaler & Simon Rauch & Hannes Gatterer & Peter Paal & Mathias Ströhle, 2020. "Rock Climbing Emergencies in the Austrian Alps: Injury Patterns, Risk Analysis and Preventive Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-14, October.
    8. Martin Burtscher & Urs Hefti & Gerhard Ruedl & Jacqueline Pichler Hefti, 2022. "Editorial on the Research Topic the 2nd Edition of Mountain Sports Activities: Injuries and Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-3, August.
    9. Kazimierz Nagody-Mrozowicz & Piotr Halemba, 2021. "Mountain Rescue in Non-Profit Organizations: Interdisciplinary Research Spectrum in Mountain Tourism," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 727-747.
    10. Martin Burtscher & Martin Niedermeier & Hannes Gatterer, 2021. "Editorial on the Special Issue on “Mountain Sports Activities: Injuries and Prevention”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-7, February.

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