Raman KS, Vyselaar JR. Electrocardiographic Findings in Professional Male Athletes.
Clin J Sport Med 2022;
32:e513-e520. [PMID:
36083337 DOI:
10.1097/jsm.0000000000001006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To generate granular normative electrocardiogram (ECG) data and characterize the variation by ethnicity and sport played.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional study; ECGs were collected from preseason screening programs from 2012 to 2019 and interpreted in accordance with athlete-specific guidelines.
SETTING
Of the professional athletes based in Vancouver, the North Shore Heart Centre performs the annual preparticipation ECG screening.
PARTICIPANTS
Seven hundred fifty-three professional male athletes competing in hockey, football, lacrosse, skiing, and snowboarding.
INTERVENTIONS
Independent variables include commonly transcribed electrocardiographic findings, for example, those indicating benign and pathologic findings.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Prevalence of and variance in electrocardiographic findings by sport played and ethnicity.
RESULTS
Of the 753 athletes, 171 (22.3%) were National Hockey League, 358 (47.5%) were Canadian Football League, 163 (21.6%) were Major League Soccer and/or the Canadian National Soccer team, and 61 (8%) others. The most common finding, sinus bradycardia, was more likely in both soccer (P < 0.001) and hockey (P < 0.001) versus football players. Early repolarization (ER) was more likely in soccer players versus both hockey (P < 0.001) and football players (P = 0.001). Within football, Black athletes (BA) were more likely than White athletes to display ER (P = 0.009), left ventricular hypertrophy (P = 0.004), and nonspecific ST changes (P = 0.027).
CONCLUSION
Our study contributes to the generation of normative data for ECG findings while accounting for ethnic and sport-specific variation. The expected clinical presentation of endurance athletes, including soccer players, and the possible predisposition of BA to develop distinct adaptations can augment clinical care by delineating physiology from pathologic changes.
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