Association between thermal responses, medical events, performance, heat acclimation and health status in male and female elite athletes during the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose To determine associations between thermal responses, medical events, performance, heat acclimation and health status during a World Athletics Championships in hot-humid conditions. Methods From 305 marathon and race-walk starters, 83 completed a preparticipation questionnaire on health and acclimation. Core (T core ; ingestible pill) and skin (T skin ; thermal camera) temperatures were measured in-competition in 56 and 107 athletes, respectively. 70 in-race medical events were analysed retrospectively. Performance (% personal best) and did not finish (DNF) were extracted from official results. Results Peak T core during competition reached 39.6°C±0.6°C (maximum 41.1°C). T skin decreased from 32.2°C±1.3°C to 31.0°C±1.4°C during the races (p<0.001). T core was not related to DNF (25% of starters) or medical events (p≥0.150), whereas T skin , T skin rate of decrease and T core -to-T skin gradient were (p≤0.029). A third of the athletes reported symptoms in the 10 days preceding the event, mainly insomnia, diarrhoea and stomach pain, with diarrhoea (9% of athletes) increasing the risk of in-race medical events (71% vs 17%, p<0.001). Athletes (63%) who performed 5–30 days heat acclimation before the competition: ranked better (18±13 vs 28±13, p=0.009), displayed a lower peak T core (39.4°C±0.4°C vs 39.8°C±0.7°C, p=0.044) and larger in-race decrease in T skin (−1.4°C±1.0°C vs −0.9°C±1.2°C, p=0.060), than non-acclimated athletes. Although not significant, they also showed lower DNF (19% vs 30%, p=0.273) and medical events (19% vs 32%, p=0.179). Conclusion T skin , T skin rate of decrease and T core -to-T skin gradient were important indicators of heat tolerance. While heat-acclimated athletes ranked better, recent diarrhoea represented a significant risk factor for DNF and in-race medical events.
Authors: Sebastien Racinais, George Havenith, Polly Aylwin, Mohammed Ihsan, Lee Taylor, Paolo Emilio Adami, Maria-Carmen Adamuz, Marine Alhammoud, Juan Manuel Alonso, Nicolas Bouscaren, Sebastian Buitrago, Marco Cardinale, Nicol van Dyk, Chris J Esh, Josu Gomez-Ezeiza, Frederic Garrandes, Louis Holtzhausen, Mariem Labidi, Gűnter Lange, Alexander Lloyd, Sebastien Moussay, Khouloud Mtibaa, Nathan Townsend, Mathew G Wilson, Stephane Bermon
Institutions: Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Loughborough University, National University of Singapore, University of Technology Sydney, Université Côte d'Azur, Laboratoire Motricité Humaine Éducation Sport Santé, International Federation of Sports Medicine, Inserm, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Université Jean Monnet, Université Jean Monnet, University College London, Irish Rugby Football Union, Stellenbosch University, University of Pretoria, COMETE - Mobilités : Vieillissement, pathologie, santé, Normandie Université, Cyceron, Université de Caen Normandie, Qatar University, Hamad bin Khalifa University
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4212976246