Background Currently, there is a paucity of long-term health data for retired athletes. This study describes the prevalence of common morbidities and multimorbidity among retired Great Britain`s (GB) Olympic athletes, compared to a general population comparator group. Methods A cross-sectional study of retired athletes was undertaken. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) served as the reference population. Age- and sex-standardized morbidity ratios (SMRs) and odd ratios (ORs) determined where morbidity and multimorbidity prevalence amongst retired athletes exceeded or were inferior to those of the reference population. Results Retired athletes (n = 493) were less likely (SMR < 1) than controls (n = 8024) to report diabetes (0.43, 99% CI 0.22, 0.74), stroke (0.39, 99% CI 0.12, 0.90), obesity (0.35, 99% CI 0.23, 0.50), asthma (0.29, 99% CI 0.12, 0.59), lung disease (0.29, 99% CI 0.06, 0.81), angina (0.18, 99% CI 0.05, 0.46), and eye disorders (0.06, 99% CI 0.01, 0.18). In addition, abnormal heart rhythm (0.45, 99% CI 0.40, 0.54) and osteoporosis (0.46, 99% CI 0.42, 0.51) were lower in female athletes. Retired athletes were more likely (SMR > 1) than controls to report melanoma or other skin cancer (5.64, 99% CI 2.80, 10.06) and osteoarthritis (1.44, 99% CI 1.18, 1.75). There were no differences detected in cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, bowel or bladder. Multimorbidity was less prevalent among retired athletes (OR 0.50, 99% CI 0.38, 0.67). Conclusions Retired athletes had superior cardiovascular health and a lower risk of multimorbidity, but were more at risk of melanoma or other skin cancer and osteoarthritis.
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