A new study has uncovered that professional bodybuilders are five times more likely to die than amateurs.
The European Heart Journal published a study examining the risk factors and causes of death among professional bodybuilders.
Unexpected death brought on by an abrupt cardiac issue is known as sudden cardiac death. Although it is uncommon in young, apparently healthy individuals, sudden cardiac death can happen to those who have underlying heart disease.
To compare the risk of sudden cardiac death between professional bodybuilders and the general population, Italian researchers examined medical data from 22,866 male bodybuilders who had competed in International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation events between 2005 and 2020.
The average age of death for the 121 bodybuilders who passed away was 45.
Professional bodybuilders were five times more likely than amateurs to die of sudden cardiac death, according to the study, which also found that 38% of experienced bodybuilders who passed away did so.
According to autopsy reports, the cause of death was either coronary artery disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; toxicological analysis revealed that anabolic steroid abuse was also a factor.
Sudden traumatic deaths, including traffic accidents, drug overdoses, homicides, and suicides, accounted for about 15% of the fatalities.
The researchers stressed that drug abuse and self-destructive behavior can result from psychological issues that are deeply embedded in the bodybuilding culture, and that these issues must be addressed before they cause further fatalities.
These findings led them to the conclusion that professional bodybuilders are much more likely to die than amateur bodybuilders.
