Osteoarthritis and other long-term health conditions in former elite cricketers

Mary E Jones; Madeleine A M Davies; Kirsten M Leyland; Antonella Delmestri; Angus Porter; Jason Ratcliffe; Nick Peirce; Julia L Newton; Nigel K Arden

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2017.10.013

Osteoarthritis and other long-term health conditions in former elite cricketers

J Sci Med Sport. 2018 Jun;21(6):558-563. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.10.013. Epub 2017 Oct 18.

Authors

Mary E Jones¹, Madeleine A M Davies², Kirsten M Leyland², Antonella Delmestri², Angus Porter³, Jason Ratcliffe³, Nick Peirce⁴, Julia L Newton², Nigel K Arden²

Affiliations

¹ University of Oxford, Botnar Research Centre, UK; Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, UK. Electronic address: authorjonesme2013@gmail.com.
² University of Oxford, Botnar Research Centre, UK; Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, UK.
³ Professional Cricketers' Association, The Laker Stand, Kia Oval, UK.
⁴ England and Wales Cricket Board, National Cricket Performance Centre, UK.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk of chronic conditions in former elite cricketers compared to a normal population, and describe wellbeing in former elite cricketers.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Former elite cricketers, recruited from the Professional Cricketers' Association, completed a self-report cross-sectional questionnaire. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) served as the normal population. The prevalence of self-reported, GP-diagnosed conditions (heart problems, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, asthma, dementia, osteoarthritis (OA), total hip replacement (THR), total knee replacement (TKR), anxiety, depression) were reported for both population samples. Standardised morbidity ratios (SMRs) compared chronic conditions in sex-, age- and BMI-matched former cricketers (n=113) and normal population (n=4496).

Results: Heart problems were reported by 13.3% of former cricketers, significantly lower than the normal population, SMR 0.55 (0.33-0.91). Former cricketers reported 31.9% hypertension, 1.8% stroke, 6.2% diabetes, 15.0% asthma, and no dementia, none significantly different to the normal population. OA, THR, and TKR were reported by 51.3%, 14.7% and 10.7% of former cricketers, respectively, significantly higher than the normal population, SMRs 3.64 (2.81-4.71), 3.99 (2.21-7.20) and 3.84 (1.92-7.68). Anxiety and depression were reported by 12.4% and 8.8% of former cricketers, respectively, SMRs 3.95 (2.34-6.67) and 2.22 (1.20-4.14). 97% of former cricketers reflected they would undertake their cricket career again, 98% agreed that cricket enriched their lives.

Conclusions: Heart problems were significantly lower, while OA, THR, TKR, anxiety, and depression were significantly higher in the former cricketers compared to the normal population (ELSA). Most former cricketers reflected positively on their career.

Keywords: Aging; Athletes; Heart diseases; Mental health; Prevalence; Sports.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety / epidemiology
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee
Athletes*
Chronic Disease / epidemiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / epidemiology
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Morbidity
Osteoarthritis / epidemiology*
Prevalence
Self Report
Sports
Surveys and Questionnaires