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 - Normandie Université Access content directly
Journal Articles British Journal of Sports Medicine Year : 2022

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

Sebastian Buitrago
  • Function : Author
Gűnter Lange
  • Function : Author
Khouloud Mtibaa
  • Function : Author

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.

Dates and versions

hal-03600603 , version 1 (07-03-2022)

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Sebastien Racinais, George Havenith, Polly Aylwin, Mohammed Ihsan, Lee Taylor, et al.. 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. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2022, bjsports-2021-104569. ⟨10.1136/bjsports-2021-104569⟩. ⟨hal-03600603⟩
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