Response to: Regarding sudden cardiac death in soccer players

Figures & data

Table 1. Number of field players during matches according to their position.

Federation	Defenders	Midfielders	Strikers
UEFA (n = 10)	4.1 ± 0.31	3.5 ± 0.97	2.4 ± 0.84
CONMEBOL (n = 10)	4.2 ± 0.78	3.6 ±1.17	2.2 ± 0.63
CONCACAF (n = 10)	4.2 ± 0.91	3.8 ± 1.22	2 ± 0.94
CAF (n = 7)	4 ± 0.57	4 ± 1.29	2 ± 0.81
AFC (n = 10)	3.8 ± 0.91	4 ± 1.41	2.2 ± 0.78
Total (n = 47)	4.06 ± 0.73	3.76 ± 1.18	2.17 ± 0.78

Data presented as mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviation: AFC = Asian Football Confederation; CAF = Confédération Africaine de Football; CONCACAF = The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football; CONMEBOL = Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol; UEFA = Union des associations européennes de football.

Figure 1. Comparison of sudden cardiac death events distribution according to player’s field position to distribution of field players during soccer matches in 47 worldwide teams.

Table 2. Adjusted distribution of sudden cardiac death events during soccer matches according to player’s position.

Position	Defenders	Midfielders	Strikers
% players per position	40.64	37.66	21.70
% deaths per position	31.8	50	18.2
Coefficient	0.78	1.33	0.84
Coeff. relative to defenders	1.00	1.70	1.07

Coefficient: % deaths per position/% players per position.