Female and male US Olympic athletes live 5 years longer than their general population counterparts: a study of 8124 former US Olympians

Abstract

ObjectiveTo quantify US female and male Olympic athletes’ longevity and the years of life lost or saved due to multiple causes of death as compared with the US general population.MethodsFormer US athletes who had participated in the summer or winter Olympic Games at least once between 1912 and 2012 were included. Olympians’ date of birth, death and the underlying causes of death were certified by the National Death Index. The Olympians’ overall and cause-specific mortality were compared with the US general population based on the US life tables, adjusted by sex, period and age. Mortality differences between the populations were quantified using the years lost/years saved (YS) method.Results8124 US Olympians (2301 women and 5823 men) lived 5.1 years longer (YS 95% CI 4.3 to 6.0) than the general population, based on 2309 deaths observed (225 women, 2084 men). Different causes of death contributed to longevity for Olympians as follows: 2.2 years were saved (1.9 to 2.5) from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); cancer, 1.5 years (1.3 to 1.8); respiratory diseases (eg, influenza, pneumonia), 0.8 years (0.7 to 0.9); external causes (eg, accidents, homicides), 0.5 years (0.4 to 0.6); endocrine and metabolic diseases (eg, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia), 0.4 years (0.2 to 0.5) and digestive system diseases (eg, cirrhosis, hepatic failure), 0.3 years (0.2 to 0.4). Mortality rates due to nervous system disorders (eg, Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons’s diseases) and mental illness (eg, dementia, schizophrenia) were not different from the general population.ConclusionUS Olympians lived longer than the general population, an advantage mainly conferred by lower risks of CVD and cancer. Nervous system disorders and mental illness did not differ between US Olympians and the general population.

Heads-Up: Risk-Specific Neurodegenerative Mortality and Years-Saved Analysis on the US Olympian Cohort

“…A previous study on the longevity of US Olympians revealed that the cohort benefited the average of 5 years of gain in life, mainly driven by the years saved from cancer and CVD deaths ( Antero et al, 2020 ). However, the study did not explore the potential survival advantage considering the isolated neurodegenerative disorders.…”

“…The data collection process follows the existing study on the longevity of the US Olympians ( Antero et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Furthermore, the impact of ND on the total longevity of elite athletes remains inconclusive. So far, it is established that elite athletes tend to live 3–7 years longer than the general population mainly due to the lower risk of cancer and cardiovascular death ( Lehman et al, 2012 ; Antero-Jacquemin et al, 2015 ; Radonić et al, 2017 ; Nguyen et al, 2019 ; Antero et al, 2020 ). However, a previous study based on former US Olympians did not show any survival advantage from nervous system disorders when compared with the general population ( Zwiers et al, 2012 ; Radonić et al, 2017 ; Antero et al, 2020 ).…”

The central role of mitochondrial fitness on antiviral defenses: An advocacy for physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic

“… 6 ; 7 ; 9 ; 15 ; 28 ; 29 ; 36 ; 40 ; 41 ; 43 ; 44 ; 46 ; 53 ; 56 ; 57 ; 59 ; 60 ; 72 ; 75 ; 76 ; 83 ; 84 ; 87 ; 88 ; 90 ; 91 ; 92 ; 96 ; 118 ; 119 ; 121 ; 122 ; 129 ; 133 ; 136 ; 146 ; 147 ; 148 ; 149 ; 150 ; 152 ; 162 ; 163 ; 164 ; 165 ; 166 ; 167 ; 168 ; 169 ; 177 ; 181 ; 182 ; 183 ; 184 ; 196 ; 197 ; 206 ; 207 ; 208 ; 209 ; 211 ; 212 ; 218 ; 219 ; 220 ; 221 ; 222 ; 223 ; 224 ; 225 ; 235 ; 236 .…”

Elevated peak systolic blood pressure in endurance‐trained athletes: Physiology or pathology?

“…Tour de France cyclist live 6.3 years longer than the general French population, with neoplasms, not heart disease, being the chief cause of death 75 . Longevity findings are also seen in American Olympic athletes who show an additional 5.1 years and decreased rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer compared to regular Americans 76 . Greater LV mass (>220 g) has been associated with higher peak GXT SBP values in 24/51 male triathletes of similar max (57.3 ± 7.5 vs 59.8 ± 9.5 mL/kg/min), age (37.2 years), and body weight participating in half‐ and full‐distance Ironman.…”