Factors associated with a history of acute traumatic cycling injuries in 60 941 cycling race entrants in South Africa: SAFER study XLII.

BACKGROUND: Information on acute traumatic cycling injuries (ATCIs) in the 12 months prior to entry in a cycling race and the predisposing factors have not been well-researched. OBJECTIVE: Determine factors associated with a history of ATCIs sustained in the previous 12 months by race entrants of a 109 km cycling race. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study on 60 941 Cape Town Cycle Tour race entrants from 2016 to 2020. Data on a history of ATCIs sustained in the previous 12 months were obtained through an online pre-race medical screening questionnaire (mandatory in 2016, and voluntary in 2017-2020). Factors investigated were demographics, cycling/training history and history of chronic disease, collapse, cramping, allergies and regular chronic prescription medication usage. We calculated the prevalence ratio (PR) for reporting a history of an ATCI in the previous 12 months for each category (multiple regression model). RESULTS: Factors associated with an increased PR for a history of ATCIs gathered from race entrants (34% of the total entrants) were: increased years of participation in distance cycling events >2 hours (PR=1.05 per 5 years of distance cycling, p<0.0001), increased weekly average training/racing distance of a cyclist in the past 12 months (PR=1.11 per 50 km increase in weekly cycling). Other factors were: increased number of chronic diseases reported (PR=1.53, per two additional chronic diseases reported, p<0.0001), history of collapse (PR=1.75, p=0.0005), history of cramping (PR=1.65, p<0.0001) and history of allergies (PR=1.49, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Subgroups of recreational cyclists at higher risk for ATCIs were identified. This information could assist in developing and implementing future strategies to mitigate ATCIs.

Women, older age, faster cycling speed and increased wind speeds are independent risk factors for acute injury-related medical encounters during a 109 km mass community-based participation cycling event: a 3-year study in 102251 race starters-SAFER XII.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on acute injury-related medical encounters (injuries) in endurance cycling events. OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for injuries during a mass community-based endurance cycling event. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Cape Town Cycle Tour (109 km), South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: 102 251 race starters. METHODS: All injuries for 3 years were recorded by race medical doctors and nurses. Injuries were grouped into main anatomical area of injury, and a Poisson regression model was used to determine the risk factors associated with injuries. RESULTS: The four injury risk factors associated with all injuries during an endurance cycling event were sex (women vs men, p<0.0001), older age (p=0.0005), faster cycling speed (p<0.0001) and higher average individualised Wind Speed (aiWindSpeed, p<0.0001). The only risk factor for serious/life-threatening injuries was women (p=0.0413). For specific main anatomical areas: head/neck (women), upper limb (women, older age, faster cyclists), trunk (women, higher aiWindSpeed), and lower limb (higher aiWindSpeed). CONCLUSION: Women, older age, faster cycling speed and higher aiWindSpeed were all risk factors for acute injuries during a mass community-based endurance cycling event. These risk factors should help inform race organisers and medical teams on race day to ensure the best medical care is given, and effective acute injury prevention programmes are disseminated.