Retrospective study of the use of medication and supplements during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the intake of medication and supplements used by top-level players during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. PARTICIPANTS: 736 top-level players. SETTING: The team doctors uploaded a list of the medications used by each player to the online reporting tool within 72 hours of each match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Average number of medications used per player per match and during the tournament; average number and percentage of players using at least one medication per match and during the tournament. RESULTS: 54% of the players took at least one medication during the tournament and 39% took at least one medication before each match. The most used medications were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (38.6%), followed by other analgesics (13.8%) and medications for insomnia and anxiety (13%). On average, 0.72 medications were taken per player per match and 1.32 per player during the tournament. The mean number of medication intake per player per match was higher during the knockout stage compared with the group stage (0.88±1.36 vs 0.65±1.08, p<0.001). Players from South America and North and Central America took more medications per match compared with the players from Africa (0.9±1.14 and 0.98±1.1 vs 0.48±0.83, p<0.001 in both cases). CONCLUSION: The intake of NSAIDs decreased during the 2018 FIFA World Cup compared with previous FIFA World Cups, but stayed at a high level. The high number of medications taken is a cause for concern, and therefore, players, medical staff and coaches should be made more aware of the possible side effects of a high medication intake.

Use and abuse of medication during 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: a retrospective survey.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of medication of top-level male players during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. DESIGN: Retrospective survey. PARTICIPANTS/INFORMATION: 736 top level players. SETTING: The teams' physicians disclosed a list of the medications used by each player within 72 h before each match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. OUTCOME MEASURES: Average number of medications used per player per match or during the tournament; average number and percentage of players using at least one medication per match or during the tournament. RESULTS: 67.0% of all players took various types of medication during the tournament. The most used medications during the tournament were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), by 54.2% of all players, followed by analgaesics (12.6%); ß-2 agonists were only used by 0.5%. On average, 0.8 medications per player were used before each match. More players were reported taking medications during the knockout round than during the qualification round (0.36±0.48 vs 0.49±0.50, p<0.001). Players from the South American and Asian Confederations took twice as many medications per match as players from the African Confederation (1.17±1.55 and 1.01±1.26 vs 0.48±0.69, both p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was high use of NSAIDs during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Although the intake of NSAIDs per match (0.35±0.46 vs 0.31±0.48, p<0.01) in the 2014 FIFA World Cup decreased compared to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the average use was still higher than in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and the average number of all used medications per player remained the same level as 4 years prior, with all its implications for the player's health. More efforts need to be undertaken worldwide in order to reduce the administration of medications in sports, through continuous education for players, starting from a young age, as well as for doctors and paramedics.

Surgical technique of a recurrent post-radiation vesicovaginal fistula with a small intestine graft.

Vesicovaginal fistulas are devastating conditions for the affected women. The combination of a hysterectomy and radiation increases the fistula risk 5-10 times. Radiation-induced recurrent vesicovaginal fistulas have the lowest success rate and require the most demanding treatment. We present the case of a recurrent post-radiation vesicovaginal fistula treated with a small intestine graft after unsuccessful conservative and failed previous operative treatments. The surgical management with a small intestine graft led to a permanently closed fistula. We describe the surgical abdominal procedure step-wise and review the rather scarce, post-radiation fistula literature. The closure of a vesicovaginal fistula with a small intestine graft is a complex surgical treatment with a long-term, successful result.

High prevalence of medication use in professional football tournaments including the World Cups between 2002 and 2014: a narrative review with a focus on NSAIDs.

The use of medication in international football has been monitored since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Team physicians were asked to provide information on prescribed medication 72 h prior to each match for every player. 69% of adult male players reported using medication, with more than half the players using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Up to one-third of all players used NSAIDs prior to every match, regardless of whether they took the field or not. The mean intake of medication was significantly higher during the FIFA Women's World Cup (0.85 vs 0.77 substances per player and per match in men, p<0.001), whereas the use of NSAIDs was similar to that for men. In the Under-20 and Under-17 male competitions, the use of medication was lower as 60% of players used some kind of medication and 43% of the players used NSAIDs during the tournaments. Despite the potential side effects of medication, especially of NSAIDs in the recovery process after a sports activity, there is no evidence of decreasing intake. The reported incidence is alarming, and moreover is most probably underestimated, since self-medication by the players or treatment already prescribed by club physicians is not included in the published reports. Future studies should focus on the daily dosage, time of treatment and especially the medical indication for painkilling agents to better understand the underlying factors.