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

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Niedermeier

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Hannes Gatterer

    (Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, EURAC Research, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Elena Pocecco

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Center for Teaching Methodology, Pedagogical University Tyrol, 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

Annually, millions of people engage in mountain sports activities all over the world. These activities are associated with health benefits, but concurrently with a risk for injury and death. Knowledge on death rates is considered important for the categorization of high-risk sports in literature and for the development of effective preventive measures. The death risk has been reported to vary across different mountain sports primarily practiced in the summer season. To complete the spectrum, the aim of the present review is to compare mortality rates across different mountain sports activities primarily practiced in winter. A comprehensive literature search was performed on the death risk (mortality) during such activities, i.e., alpine (downhill) skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ski touring, and sledging. With the exception of ski touring (4.4 deaths per 1 million exposure days), the mortality risk was low across different winter sports, with small activity-specific variation (0.3–0.8 deaths per 1 million exposure days). Traumatic (e.g., falls) and non-traumatic (e.g., cardiac death) incidents and avalanche burial in ski tourers were the predominant causes of death. Preventive measures include the improvement of sport-specific skills and fitness, the use of protective gear, well-targeted and intensive training programs concerning avalanche hazards, and sports-medical counseling for elderly and those with pre-existing diseases.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2019:i:1:p:259-:d:303284
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Martin Burtscher & Gerhard Ruedl, 2015. "Favourable Changes of the Risk-Benefit Ratio in Alpine Skiing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-6, May.
    4. Martin Niedermeier & Gerhard Ruedl & Martin Burtscher & Martin Kopp, 2019. "Injury-Related Behavioral Variables in Alpine Skiers, Snowboarders, and Ski Tourers—A Matched and Enlarged Re-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-10, October.
    5. Gerhard Ruedl & Markus Posch & Martin Niedermeier & Klaus Greier & Martin Faulhaber & Alois Schranz & Martin Burtscher, 2019. "Are Risk-Taking and Ski Helmet Use Associated with an ACL Injury in Recreational Alpine Skiing?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-9, August.
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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. 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.
    3. Cristina Rotllan & Ginés Viscor, 2023. "Winter Sports Injuries in Elite Female Athletes: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-9, May.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. Markus Posch & Johannes Burtscher & Gerhard Ruedl & Elena Pocecco & Martin Burtscher, 2022. "Unchanged Fatality Rate on Austrian Ski Slopes during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-7, June.
    8. Mathias Ströhle & Matthias Haselbacher & Christopher Rugg & Alex Walpoth & Ricarda Konetschny & Peter Paal & Peter Mair, 2019. "Mortality in Via Ferrata Emergencies in Austria from 2008 to 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-8, December.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.

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