Novel Factors Associated With Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Medication Use in Distance Runners: Pre-race Screening Among 76 654 Race Entrants—SAFER Study VI

Objective: Analgesic/anti-inflammatory medication (AAIM) increases the risk of medical complications during endurance races. We determined how many runners use AAIM before or during races, AAIM types, and factors associated with AAIM use. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: 21.1-km and 56-km races. Participants: Seventy-six thousand six hundred fifty-four race entrants. Methods: Participants completed pre-race medical screening questions on AAIM use, running injury or exercise-associated muscle cramping (EAMC) history, and general medical history. Main Outcome Measures: Analgesic/anti-inflammatory medication use, types of AAIM (% runners; 95% confidence interval), and factors associated with AAIM use (sex, age, race distance, history of running injury or EAMC, and history of chronic diseases) [prevalence ratio (PR)]. Results: Overall, 12.2% (12.0-12.5) runners used AAIM 1 week before and/or during races (56 km = 18.6%; 18.0-19.1, 21.1 km = 8.3%; 8.1-8.6) (P

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