[Damage to doping victims of the GDR].

Abstract

Background: Many former top GDR athletes are still suffering from the consequences of the GDR doping system, which has so far been dealt with by the sports historian Giselher Spitzer in particular with questionnaire surveys. The present study analyzes medical reports of n = 107 recognized GDR doping victims, categorizes the symptoms in analogy to Spitzer's survey and compares both surveys.

Method: All specialist reports, hospital and rehabilitation stay reports of the recognized doping victims (56 ♀ , 51 ♂ ) provided were reviewed, analyzed, adapted to Spitzer's previously known rubrication, presented descriptively, tabularly and graphically and statistically tested (e.g. Shapiro-Wilk, Chi² test, Spearman coefficient, Bland-Altman plot).

Results: Both in the Spitzer survey and in the current study, multiple degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system dominate. Mental illnesses follow in second place in both studies. The statistical evaluation of the damage spectrum in the comparison of the current study with Spitzer's surveys did not reveal any significant results in the median test, so that a common population could be assumed. In the correlation analysis, a significant correlation coefficient of r = 0.7 was found. However, Spitzer's data show more thyroid diseases and dermatological problems, while the current survey shows more fractures and andrological consequences of doping.

Conclusions: It is possible that up to 12,000 people suffer from the psychological and somatic consequences of state-ordered GDR doping, some of which can be found throughout the Federal Republic. The focus is primarily on orthopaedic damage with corresponding chronic pain and, secondarily, mental disorders. This study is intended to raise awareness of the chronic suffering of the doping victim group among practitioners and clinical colleagues. The results are also intended to deter young competitive and amateur athletes from abusing doping substances in sports medical consultations.