Medical problems of athletes attending Summer Deaflympics 2017 and comparison by gender

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to share our experience of the Summer Deaflympics 2017 from the point of view of healthcare, and to describe the athletes' health issues. METHODS: Besides demographical features, also types of trauma or illness of the athletes who partecipated to the 23rd Summer Deaflympics Games were determined. Then, the patients were grouped according to gender and compared with each other. RESULTS: Turkey and China were the countries that most commonly presented to a hospital. Of 135 athletes presented to a hospital due to injuries or illnesses, the majority of them practised football or athletics sports. The most common reason for trauma-related injury was falls, while the most common illness was gastroenteritis. There was no significant difference in illnesses or injuries between male and female athletes. CONCLUSIONS: For a better success in healthcare in such big sports events, with cooperation between health institutions, healthcare providers must be aware of trauma and illness types to which most frequently athletes are exposed to.