Medical encounters during a trail mass gathering: first analysis from Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study aimed to investigate medical encounters at a trail-running mass-gathering event in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data on medical encounters recorded by healthcare practitioners. The medical care reports for each encounter were analyzed, and the perception of emergency personnel was captured after each encounter. The primary objective was to analyze injury patterns, medical usage, and disposition. Results: A total of 109 medical encounters were recorded, accounting for an incidence rate of 11%. The median age was 37 years inter-quartile range (IQR, 30-43), and males accounted for 76.1%. Nearly half of patients (45.0%) participated in the 50-km race, and most had prior marathon experience (median, 2 marathons; IQR, 1-5), while 10% were first-time runners. The most common presentation was localized muscle cramps (59.6%), with muscle strain comprising 30.3% of final diagnoses. Most participants sought medical attention at the midpoint (37.6%), followed by the finish line (27.5%). Most patients (97.2%) were discharged on-site, while 2.8% required transfer. Conclusion: This study reported a high incidence of medical encounters (11%), which underscores the challenge of preparedness for marathon and running events. Marathon medical planning should emphasize resource allocation at the midpoint and final medical stations. These results demonstrated the value of on-site medical coverage and provide practical guidance for planning and resource distribution.