Illness at a Para Athletics Track and Field World Championships under Hot and Humid Ambient Conditions

Background Heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, is seen as a major risk for athletes with a physical impairment. Objective Primary: To survey the illness statistics during the 2015 Para Athletics World Championships and report on any cases of significant heat-related illnesses. Secondary: To document the heat countermeasures taken on behalf of the organizing committee. Design Retrospective audit. Setting Medical records collected at medical centers during the 2015 Para Athletics World Championships. Participants Athletes participating in the 2015 Para Athletics World Championships. Methods Illness statistics and records of hospitalizations of athletes participating in the championships were recorded by the medical officials during the precompetition (3 days) and competition (10 days) periods. Furthermore, wet-bulb globe temperatures (WBGTs) were measured at the competition venues. Main Outcome Measurements Incidence rates of illness during the precompetition and competition periods. Results WBGTs ranged from 24.6 degrees C to 36.0 degrees C, regularly exceeding the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) guidelines for cancelation in the morning both during the competition (ACSM, 52%; IAAF, 97%) and precompetition periods (ACSM, 75%; IAAF, 100%). These guidelines were not exceeded as regularly during the evening and noon for both the precompetition and competition periods (ACSM, 0%-5%; IAAF, 0%-58%). The illness incidence rate was 2.89 per 1000 athlete-days (incidence proportion = 3.76%; confidence interval = 2.69%-4.83%). Only seven cases of heat-related illness were recorded, of which three required hospitalization. Conclusion This study indicates low rates of illness, including hospitalization and intravenous administration for heat-related illness among athletes participating in the 2015 Para Athletics World Championships. Level of Evidence III.