Medical Encounters at Community-Based Physical Activity Events (parkrun) in the United Kingdom

Objective: To determine the incidence, clinical correlates and exposure risk of medical encounters during community-based physical activity events in the UK. Methods: An analysis of medical data from weekly, community-based physical activity events (parkrun) at 702 UK locations over a 6-year period (29,476,294 participations between 2014 and 2019) was conducted in order to define the incidence and clinical correlates of serious life-threatening, non-life-threatening, and fatal medical encounters. Results: 84 serious life-threatening encounters (overall incidence rate = 0.26/100,000 participations) occurred including 18 fatalities (0.056/100,000 participations). Statistical modelling revealed that the probabilities of serious life-threatening encounters were exceptionally low, however, male sex, increasing age, slower personal best parkrun time, and less prior running engagement/experience (average number of runs per year and number of years as a parkrun participant) were associated with increased probability of serious life-threatening encounters. These were largely accounted for by cardiac arrest (48/84, 57%) and acute coronary syndromes (20/84, 24%). Non-life-threatening medical encounters were mainly attributed to tripping or falling, with a reported incidence of 38.1/100,000 participations. Conclusions: Serious life-threatening and fatal medical encounters associated with parkrun participation are extremely rare. In the context of a global public health crisis due to inactivity, this finding underscores the safety and corollary public health value of community running/walking events as a strategy to promote physical activity. Funding: A grant was provided by parkrun to complete this work.