Loss of consciousness (LOC) during football games is associated with very high
mortality rates. In order to address football medical emergencies, in 2013 FIFA
implemented the “FIFA 11 steps to prevent sudden cardiac death” program and
distributed the FIFA Medical Emergency Bag. The purpose of this work was to
identify independent survival factors after LOC on the pitch and to investigate
the effectiveness of the FIFA initiatives. An internet search was performed to
identify football players suffering LOC on the pitch between 1990 and 2021. A
total of 268 cases could be identified and were dichotomized according to the
implementation date of the FIFA medical emergency bag. There was 55% mortality
after LOC, while cardiogenic LOC was more often (82% vs. 20%) fatal than
traumatic LOC. Mortality in developing countries was higher than in developed
countries. From the year 2013 survival improved significantly for both traumatic
and cardiogenic cases. The location of the LOC significantly influenced survival
(OR: 0.20 and p<0.001). LOC on the football field is associated with
increased mortality and requires separate monitoring based on a traumatic vs.
non-traumatic cause. FIFA initiatives significantly reduced mortality after LOC
but significant differences were identified between developed and developing
countries.
Keywords
loss of consciousness - football - FIFA medical emergency bag - FIFA 11 program - trauma - sudden cardiac death
Bibliographical Record
Sotirios Katsigiannis, Nader Maai, Polykarpos Patsalis, Sergiu Groppa, Konstantinos Gousias, Bogdan Pintea. FIFA Initiatives Improved Survival After Loss of Consciousness During
Football Games. Sports Med Int Open 2024; 08: a21969348.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2196-9348
