A new consensus document on electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes: does it help to prevent sudden cardiac death in athletes?

Blood and Salivary Cortisol Variations in Athletes in Relation to Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Background and Objectives: Cortisol is a valuable marker for assessing the body's response to any form of stress. We conducted this study in order to evaluate the variations of salivary and serum cortisol levels in professional football players in relation to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and their significance in potentially evaluating overtraining in athletes. Also, the question of whether salivary cortisol determination could fully substitute serum sampling was addressed. Materials and Methods: A total of 19 male professional football players were evaluated by measuring serum cortisol levels at rest (T0) and immediately after a CPET (T1) and salivary cortisol levels at rest (T0), 10 min after a CPET (T2), and 30 min after a CPET (T3). Results: T0 serum cortisol showed a statistically significant correlation with the oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold divided by the body weight (VO2-AT/weight), as did the T2 salivary cortisol with the maximum oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (VO2-AT) and VO2-AT/weight. T0 salivary cortisol was significantly correlated with the subjects' height and the predicted O2 pulse. Conclusions: While some correlations were discovered, they are insufficient to recommend cortisol as a routine biomarker in athletes' evaluation. However, significant correlations were established between salivary and serum determinations, meaning that the non-invasive procedure could substitute venous blood sampling.

The Relationship between the Frontal QRS-T Angle on ECG and Physical Activity Level in Young Adults

BACKGROUND

The heart's electrical activity has been the subject of numerous research concerning various physiological parameters. The frontal QRS-T angle (FQRST) is an advanced ECG variable with clinical epidemiological utility. This study aimed to determine the relationship between FQRST and physical activity exposure among young adults.

METHODS

We recorded the ECG with 12 leads of 124 participants (mean age 20.28 ± 2.23 years, age range 18-27 years). Next, we measured their physical activity level (PAL) with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ), which categorizes activity into three classes: low, moderate, or high.

RESULTS

An inferential analysis, based on the Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test, revealed a statistically significant difference in FQRST between the three groups of subjects, classified by their PAL (p < 0.001). We also identified a significant regression model between the body mass index (BMI) and the FQRST (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The physical activity regime of young adults significantly influences the concordance between ventricular depolarization and repolarization, reflected in the FQRST's width. Also, we found a regression model between FQRST and BMI with statistical significance.

Prevalence of abnormal and borderline electrocardiogram changes in 13, 079 Chinese amateur marathon runners

BACKGROUND

The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been adopted as an important component of preparticipation cardiovascular screening. However, there are still controversies in the screening and few studies with a large sample size have reported the results of ECGs of marathon runners. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of normal, borderline, and abnormal ECG changes in marathon runners.

METHODS

The 12-lead ECG data of 13,079 amateur marathon runners between the ages of 18 and 35 years were included for analysis. The prevalence of ECG abnormalities among different gender groups was compared with chi-square tests.

RESULTS

In terms of training-related changes, sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, and left ventricular high voltage were found in approximately 15, 5, and 3.28% of the participants, respectively. The incidence of right axis deviation in the marathon runners was 1.78%, which was slightly higher than the incidence of left axis deviation (0.88%). No more than 0.1% of the amateur marathon runners exhibited ST-segment depression, T wave inversion (TWI), premature ventricular contraction, pathologic Q waves, and prolonged QT interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Training-related ECG changes, including sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, and left ventricular high voltage, were common in amateur marathon runners. Most abnormal ECG changes, including ST-segment depression, TWI, premature ventricular contraction, pathologic Q waves, and prolonged QT interval, were infrequently found in amateur marathon runners. The data also suggested Chinese amateur marathon runners may have a relatively lower prevalence of ECG abnormalities than black and white runners.

The role of the electrocardiogram in identifying the risk of sudden cardiac death

Introduction: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) represents the unexpected and sudden death of young apparently healthy people. Alarge number of examined cases referred to professional athletes. There is not enough data in the literature related to those who performed sports in a sporadic and recreational manner. In order to prevent SCD, a screening protocol was determined, in which, an ECG performed at rest plays a important role. Based on the established criteria, changes on the ECG can be treated as normal, borderline and abnormal. An abnormal result indicates a risk of SCD. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the risk of SCD in students who practice physical activity recreationally. Methods: The research involved 500 students (both sexes) of the 1st and 3rd year of study on the University of Pristina situated in Kosovska Mitrovica. As part of the regular systematic examination, an ECG was performed at rest. The risk of SCD was determined by analyzing the changes on the ECG and grouping them based on screening recommendations. Results: The obtained results show that 44% of students had changes on the ECG and that 8% of students had an abnormal result indicated a possible risk of sudden cardiac death. Conclusion: Therefore, timely recognizing and interpreting ECG changes in accordance with screening recommendations is an imperative for identification and possible prevention of SCD.

ECG criteria for the detection of high-risk cardiovascular conditions in master athletes

Objective

Structured electrocardiography (ECG) analysis is used to screen athletes for high-risk cardiovascular conditions (HRCC) to prevent sudden cardiac death. ECG criteria have been specified and recommended for use in young athletes ≤ 35 years. However, it is unclear whether these ECG criteria can also be applied to master athletes >35 years.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to test whether the existing ECG criteria for detecting HRCC in young athletes can be applied to master athletes.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among athletes >35 years screened for HRCC between 2006 and 2010. We performed a blinded retrospective analysis of master athletes’ ECGs, separately applying European Society of Cardiology (ESC)-2005, Seattle, and International criteria. HRCC were defined using recommendations from the international cardiac societies American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, and ESC, based on ECG screening and cardiovascular evaluation (CVE).

Results

We included 2578 master athletes in the study, of whom 494 had initial screening abnormalities mandating CVE. Atrial enlargement (109, 4.1%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (98, 3.8%) were the most common ECG abnormalities found using the ESC-2005 or Seattle criteria. Applying the International criteria, ST-segment deviation (66, 2.6%), and T-wave inversion (58, 2.2%) were most frequent. The ESC-2005 criteria detected more HRCC (46, 1.8%) compared with the Seattle (36, 1.4%) and International criteria (33, 1.3%). The most frequently detected HRCC was coronary artery disease (24, 0.9%).

Conclusion

ECG criteria recommended for use in young athletes can be applied to master athletes’ ECGs to detect HRCC. The ESC-2005 criteria had the highest sensitivity for detecting HRCC among master athletes.

Role of extensive diagnostic workup in young athletes and nonathletes with complex ventricular arrhythmias

BACKGROUND

Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are the most common cause of death in athletes. The differences in the electroanatomic substrate in athletes and nonathletes with complex VA are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the electroanatomic substrate of complex VA in athletes vs nonathletes.

METHODS

The study prospectively enrolled young athletes and nonathletes with VA. Patients underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, coronary angiography, 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping (3D-EAM), and 3D-EAM-guided endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). Follow-up included 24-hour electrocardiographic Holter or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator/loop recorder interrogation for VA recurrence.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients were enrolled: 18 competitive athletes (56%) and 15 nonathletes (44%). Left ventricular and right ventricular (RV) findings by echocardiography and CMR did not show structural disease. Nine athletes (50%) were asymptomatic compared to 1 nonathlete (7%; P <.05). Unifocal origin of VA was reported in 14 athletes (93%) and 17 nonathletes (94%). Athletes showed a larger RV unipolar than bipolar scar (18 ± 17 cm² vs 3 ± 3.8 cm²; P = .04). Diagnostic yield of EMB was 50% in athletes and 40% in nonathletes. Among athletes, the final diagnosis was myocarditis in 2, arrhythmogenic ventricular right cardiomyopathy in 1, and focal replacement fibrosis in 1. Among nonathletes, EMB revealed focal replacement fibrosis in 4 cases. At median follow-up of 18.7 months, Kaplan-Meier curves showed lower VA recurrence in detrained athletes than nonathletes (53% vs 6%; P = .02).

CONCLUSION

This study showed the need for extensive diagnostic workup in apparently healthy young patients with complex VA in order to characterize concealed cardiomyopathies.