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Henning RJ. The differentiation of the competitive athlete with physiologic cardiac remodeling from the athlete with cardiomyopathy. Curr Probl Cardiol 2024; 49:102473. [PMID: 38447749 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
There are currently 5 million active high school, collegiate, professional, and master athletes in the United States. Regular intense exercise by these athletes can promote structural, electrical and functional remodeling of the heart, which is termed the "athlete's heart." In addition, regular intense exercise can lead to pathological adaptions that promote or worsen cardiac disease. Many of the athletes in the United States seek medical care. Consequently, physicians must be aware of the normal cardiac anatomy and physiology of the athlete, the differentiation of the normal athlete heart from the athlete with cardiomyopathy, and the contemporary care of the athlete with a cardiomyopathy. In athletes with persistent cardiovascular symptoms, investigations should include a detailed history and physical examination, an ECG, a transthoracic echocardiogram, and in athletes in whom the diagnosis is uncertain, a maximal exercise stress test or a continuous ECG recording, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or cardiac computed tomography angiography when definition of the coronary anatomy or characterization of the aorta and the aortic great vessels is indicated. This article discusses the differentiation of the normal athlete with physiologic cardiac remodeling from the athlete with hypertrophic, dilated or arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy (ACM). The ECG changes in trained athletes that are considered normal, borderline, or abnormal are listed. In addition, the normal echocardiographic measurements for athletes who consistently participate in endurance, power, combined or heterogeneous sports are enumerated and discussed. Algorithms are listed that are useful in the diagnosis of trained athletes with borderline or abnormal echocardiographic measurements suggestive of cardiomyopathies along with the major and minor criteria for the diagnosis of ACM in athletes. Thereafter, the treatment of athletes with hypertrophic, dilated, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies are reviewed. The distinction between physiologic changes and pathologic changes in the hearts of athletes has important therapeutic and prognostic implications. Failure by the physician to correctly diagnose an athlete with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, or ACM, can lead to the sudden cardiac arrest and death of the athlete during training or sports competition. Conversely, an incorrect diagnosis by a physician of cardiac pathology in a normal athlete can lead to an unnecessary restriction of athlete training and competition with resultant significant emotional, psychological, financial, and long-term health consequences in the athlete.
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2
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Ujeyl A, Niederseer D. [The athlete's ECG : What is normal or abnormal?]. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2023; 34:10-18. [PMID: 36670183 PMCID: PMC9950162 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-022-00917-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The electrocardiogram (ECG) has become a mobile and cost-effective routine assessment tool to risk stratify leisure-time and professional athletes during preparticipation screening. A central goal is the reduction of sudden cardiac death in sports through early recognition of the most prevalent underlying cardiac pathologies, e.g., hereditary cardiomyopathies or primary arrhythmias. METHODS Continuous evolution of the first ECG criteria for athletes, presented in 2010 by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), has helped to improve the specificity of the criteria to both detect cardiac pathologies in early stages and differentiate from physiologic adaptation of the athlete's heart. Thus, the risk of false-positive findings and erroneous stigmatizations of athletes has been successfully reduced. CONCLUSION This review article intends to trace back the changes of the ECG criteria in the light of a growing body of scientific evidence over the last 15 years, to present the key messages of the current International ECG criteria from 2017 and to identify some of the remaining challenges that wait to be answered by physicians in the field of sports medicine and sports cardiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaar Ujeyl
- Praxis LANS Cardio, Hamburg, Deutschland ,grid.264200.20000 0000 8546 682XMSc Sports Cardiology, St. George’s University of London, London, Großbritannien
| | - David Niederseer
- Klinik für Kardiologie, Universitäres Herzzentrum Zürich, Universitätsspital Zürich, Universität Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, Zürich, 8091, Schweiz.
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3
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Left Cardiac Remodelling Assessed by Echocardiography Is Associated with Rho-Kinase Activation in Long-Distance Runners. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8100118. [PMID: 34677187 PMCID: PMC8541355 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8100118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This single-blind and cross-sectional study evaluated the role of Rho-kinase (ROCK) as a biomarker of the cardiovascular remodelling process assessed by echocardiography in competitive long-distance runners (LDRs) during the training period before a marathon race. Thirty-six healthy male LDRs (37.0 ± 5.3 years; 174.0 ± 7.0 height; BMI: 23.8 ± 2.8; V˙ O2-peak: 56.5 ± 7.3 mL·kg-1·min-1) were separated into two groups according to previous training level: high-training (HT, n = 16) ≥ 100 km·week-1 and low-training (LT, n = 20) ≥ 70 and < 100 km·week-1. Also, twenty-one healthy nonactive subjects were included as a control group (CTR). A transthoracic echocardiography was performed and ROCK activity levels in circulating leukocytes were measured at rest (48 h without exercising) the week before the race. The HT group showed a higher left ventricular mass index (LVMi) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) than other groups (p < 0.05, for both); also, higher levels of ROCK activity were found in LDRs (HT = 6.17 ± 1.41 vs. CTR = 1.64 ± 0.66 (p < 0.01); vs. LT = 2.74 ± 0.84; (p < 0.05)). In LDRs a direct correlation between ROCK activity levels and LVMi (r = 0.83; p < 0.001), and LAVi (r = 0.70; p < 0.001) were found. In conclusion, in male competitive long-distance runners, the load of exercise implicated in marathon training is associated with ROCK activity levels and the left cardiac remodelling process assessed by echocardiography.
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4
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Morrison B, Mohammad A, Oxborough D, Somauroo J, Lindsay S, Drane AL, Shave R, George K. The 12-lead electrocardiogram of the elite female footballer as defined by different interpretation criteria across the competitive season. Eur J Sport Sci 2021; 22:1475-1483. [PMID: 34374331 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2021.1966103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACTPre-participation screening (PPS), using a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), is recommended to identify athletes at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). ECG interpretation criteria have been developed to address the concern arising from high false-positives in athletes. There are limited ECG data in elite female footballers. The aims of this study were to (1) compare the ECG outcomes using three published ECG criteria (European Society of Cardiology [ESC], Seattle, International) in elite female footballers and (2) compare ECG data at three different stages of a competitive season. Eighty-one elite female footballers (21 ± 4 yr) completed a medical assessment, anthropometrics, resting blood pressure and a resting 12-lead ECG. Each 12-lead ECG was interpreted in accordance with (1) ESC; (2) Seattle; (3) International Criteria to determine training-related and non-training-related ECG changes. A subset of thirteen (26 ± 4 yr) footballers had repeated resting ECG tests at three time points across the competitive season. Eighty percent of females had training-related ECG patterns. Sinus bradycardia (65%) and early repolarization (42%) were the most common. Using the ESC Criteria 25% (20/81) of the athletes were considered to have an abnormal ECG, compared to 0% using the Seattle and International Criteria, mainly due to alterations in QT length criteria. There were no clinically significant differences in ECG data across a competitive season. The Seattle and International ECG Criteria significantly reduced the number of ECG false-positives in elite female footballers and the time point of PPS within a competitive season is unlikely to alter the PPS outcomes.Abbreviations: AMSSM: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine; ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; BSA: Body Surface Area; ECG: Electrocardiogram; ESC: European Society of Cardiology; FA: Football Association; FIFA: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA); F-MARC: FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre; LAE: Left atrial enlargement; LVH: Left ventricular hypertrophy; PPS: Pre-participation screening; SCD: Sudden cardiac death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Morrison
- Sports Cardiology BC, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Aleah Mohammad
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - John Somauroo
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sarah Lindsay
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Aimee L Drane
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Rob Shave
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Canada
| | - Keith George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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5
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Albiński M, Saubade M, Benaim C, Menafoglio A, Meyer P, Capelli B, Perrin T, Trachsel L, Hagemeyer D, Casagrande D, Wilhelm M, Pirrello T, Albrecht S, Schmied C, Mivelaz Y, Tercier S, Baggish A, Gabus V. Impact of early sports specialisation on paediatric ECG. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2021; 31:1335-1341. [PMID: 33619756 DOI: 10.1111/sms.13942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Athletes of pediatric age are growing in number. They are subject to a number of risks, among them sudden cardiac death (SCD). This study aimed to characterize the pediatric athlete population in Switzerland, to evaluate electrocardiographic findings based on the International Criteria for electrocardiography (ECG) Interpretation in Athletes, and to analyze the association between demographic data, sport type, and ECG changes. Retrospective, observational study of pediatric athletes (less than 18 years old) including medical history, physical examination, and a 12-lead resting ECG. The primary focus was on identification of normal, borderline, and abnormal ECG findings. The secondary observation was the relation between ECG and demographic, anthropometric, sport-related, and clinical data. The 891 athletes (mean 14.8 years, 35% girls) practiced 45 different sports on three different levels, representing all types of static and dynamic composition of the Classification of Sports by Mitchell. There were 75.4% of normal ECG findings, among them most commonly early repolarization, sinus bradycardia, and left ventricular hypertrophy; 4.3% had a borderline finding; 2.1% were abnormal and required further investigations, without SCD-related diagnosis. While the normal ECG findings were related to sex, age, and endurance sports, no such observation was found for borderline or abnormal criteria. Our results in an entirely pediatric population of athletes demonstrate that sex, age, and type of sports correlate with normal ECG findings. Abnormal ECG findings in pediatric athletes are rare. The International Criteria for ECG Interpretation in Athletes are appropriate for this age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Albiński
- Department of Woman-Mother-Child, Division of Paediatrics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Saubade
- Center of Sports Medicine, Division of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Woman-Mother-Child, Interdisciplinary Division for Adolescent Health, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Charles Benaim
- Center of Sports Medicine, Division of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Menafoglio
- Department of Cardiology, San Giovanni Hospital Bellinzona, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Meyer
- Service of Cardiology, University Hospital Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Capelli
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiocentro Ticino, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Tilman Perrin
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Trachsel
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Hagemeyer
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Damien Casagrande
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Wilhelm
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tony Pirrello
- Swiss Federal Institute of Sports, Magglingen, Switzerland
| | | | - Christian Schmied
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yvan Mivelaz
- Department of Woman-Mother-Child, Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Tercier
- Department of Woman-Mother-Child, Interdisciplinary Division for Adolescent Health, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aaron Baggish
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vincent Gabus
- Department of Cardiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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6
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Castelletti S, Gati S. The Female Athlete's Heart: Overview and Management of Cardiovascular Diseases. Eur Cardiol 2021; 16:e47. [PMID: 34950243 PMCID: PMC8674625 DOI: 10.15420/ecr.2021.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of female athletes taking part in elite and amateur sport is ever increasing. In contrast with male athletes, few studies have focused on cardiovascular adaptations to exercise in women, the effects of lifelong exercise on heart muscle and electrical tissue, the risk of exerciserelated sudden cardiac death and the management of cardiovascular disease. Women have a lower prevalence of large QRS complexes, repolarisation changes including inferior and lateral T-wave inversion, and cardiac dimensions exceeding predicted limits compared with men. The risk of exercise-related sudden cardiac death is significantly lower in women than men. Also, women who have engaged in lifelong exercise do not have a higher prevalence of AF, coronary artery calcification or myocardial fibrosis than their sedentary counterparts. Apart from providing an overview of the existing literature relating to cardiac adaptations, this review explores possible reasons for the sex differences and focuses on the management of cardiovascular disorders that affect female athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castelletti
- Cardiomyopathy Unit and Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin, Department of Cardiovascular, Neural and Metabolic Science, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCSMilan, Italy
| | - Sabiha Gati
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College LondonUK
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton HospitalLondon, UK
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7
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Abela M, Sharma S. Electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes. Minerva Cardiol Angiol 2020; 69:533-556. [PMID: 33059398 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5683.20.05331-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Participation in regular exercise of moderate intensity is associated with a plethora of systemic benefits, including a reduction in risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis; however, intensive exercise may paradoxically culminate in sudden cardiac arrest among individuals harboring arrhythmogenic substrates. The precise mechanism for arrhythmogenesis is likely multifactorial, however, surges in catecholamines, electrolyte shifts, acid-base disturbances, increased core temperature and demand myocardial ischemia are potential contributors. Although most deaths occur in middle aged and older males with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, a significant proportion also affect young athletes with inherited or congenital cardiac abnormalities. The impact of such catastrophes on society, particularly when a young high-profile athlete is affected could be considered a justified reason for identifying individuals who may be at risk. Given the rarity of deaths in young athletes, only the simplest screening test, such as the 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) may be considered to be cost effective. The ECG is effective for detecting serious electrical diseases in young athletes such as congenital electrical accessory pathways and ion channel diseases but can also identify athletes with potential life-threatening structural diseases such as hypertrophic and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. One of the concerns about ECG screening is that regular intensive exercise results in several physiological alterations in cardiac structure and function that are reflected on the athlete's ECG. Sinus bradycardia, first-degree atrioventricular block, incomplete right bundle branch block, minor J-point elevation and large QRS voltages are common. Conversely, some repolarization anomalies affecting the ST segment, T waves and QT interval may overlap with patterns observed in patients with serious cardiac diseases. The situation is complicated further because age, sex and ethnicity of the athletes also influence the ECG and there is a risk that erroneous interpretation could have serious consequences. This review will describe the normal electrical patterns of the "athlete's heart" and provide insights into differentiation physiological electrical patterns from those observed in serious cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Abela
- Department of Cardiology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta - .,Malta Medical School, University of Malta, Msida, Malta - .,St. George's University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, St George's University, London, UK -
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- St. George's University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, St George's University, London, UK
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8
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(Right ventricle in athletes). COR ET VASA 2020. [DOI: 10.33678/cor.2020.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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9
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Carré F, Schnell F. ECG in the athlete, QRS voltage value never matters, really? Eur J Prev Cardiol 2020; 27:1539-1541. [DOI: 10.1177/2047487320920045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- François Carré
- Univ Rennes 1, CHU Rennes, Inserm, LTSI - UMR 1099, France
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10
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Zorzi A, Vio R, Bettella N, Corrado D. Criteria for interpretation of the athlete's ECG: A critical appraisal. PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY: PACE 2020; 43:882-890. [PMID: 32602144 DOI: 10.1111/pace.14001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The electrocardiogram (ECG) is cheap and widely available but its use as a screening tool for early identification of athletes with a cardiac disease at risk of sudden cardiac death is controversial because of presumed low specificity. In the last decade, several efforts have been made to improve the distinction between physiological and pathological ECG findings in the athlete, leading to continuous evolution of the interpretation criteria. The most recent 2017 International criteria grouped ECG changes into three categories: normal, borderline, and abnormal. Borderline findings warrant further investigations only when two or more are present while abnormal changes should always be considered as the sign of a possible underlying disease. This review encompasses the evolution of the athlete's ECG interpretation criteria and highlights areas of uncertainty that will need to be addressed by further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Zorzi
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Riccardo Vio
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Natascia Bettella
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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11
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Lin GM, Lu HHS. A 12-Lead ECG-Based System With Physiological Parameters and Machine Learning to Identify Right Ventricular Hypertrophy in Young Adults. IEEE JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL ENGINEERING IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE-JTEHM 2020; 8:1900510. [PMID: 32509473 PMCID: PMC7269457 DOI: 10.1109/jtehm.2020.2996370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The presence of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) accounts for approximately 5-10% in young adults. The sensitivity estimated by commonly used 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for identifying the presence of RVH is under 20% in the general population. The aim of this study is to develop a 12-lead ECG system with the related information of age, body height and body weight via machine learning to increase the sensitivity and the precision for detecting RVH. METHOD In a sample of 1,701 males, aged 17-45 years, support vector machine is used for the training of 31 parameters including age, body height and body weight in addition to 28 ECG data such as axes, intervals and wave voltages as the inputs to link the output RVH. The RVH is defined on the echocardiographic finding for young males as right ventricular anterior wall thickness > 5.5 mm. RESULTS On the system goal for increasing sensitivity, the specificity is controlled around 70-75% and all data tested in the proposed method show competent sensitivity up to 70.3%. The values of area under curve of receiver operating characteristic curve and precision-recall curve using the proposed method are 0.780 and 0.285, respectively, which are better than 0.518 and 0.112 using the Sokolow-Lyon voltage criterion, respectively, for detecting unspecific RVH. CONCLUSION We present a method using simple physiological parameters with ECG data to effectively identify more than 70% of the RVH among young adults. Clinical Impact: This system provides a fast, precise and feasible diagnosis tool to screen RVH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen-Min Lin
- Department of Preventive MedicineFeinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIL60611USA.,Department of MedicineHualien Armed Forces General HospitalHualien97144Taiwan.,Department of MedicineTri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei11490Taiwan
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12
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Sanz-de la Garza M, Carro A, Caselli S. How to interpret right ventricular remodeling in athletes. Clin Cardiol 2020; 43:843-851. [PMID: 32128858 PMCID: PMC7403694 DOI: 10.1002/clc.23350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-lasting athletic training induces an overload on the heart that leads to structural, functional, and electrical adaptive changes known as the "athlete's heart." The amount of this heart remodeling has been traditionally considered balanced between the left and the right heart chambers. However, during intense exercise, the right heart is exposed to a disproportional afterload and wall stress which over a long period of time could lead to more pronounced exercise-induced changes. Highly trained athletes, especially those involved in endurance sport disciplines, can develop marked right ventricular (RV) remodeling that could raise the suspicion of an underlying RV pathology including arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The distinction between physiological and pathological RV remodeling is essential as ACM is a common cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes, and high-intensity exercise training has demonstrated to accelerate its phenotypic expression and worsen its prognosis. The distinction between physiological and pathological RV remodeling is essential since ACM is a common cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes, and high-intensity exercise training has demonstrated to accelerate the phenotypic expression and worsen the prognosis. This article outlines the physiological adaptation of the RV to acute exercise, the subsequent physiological structural and functional changes induced by athletic training and provides useful tips of how to differentiate between physiological RV remodeling and a cardiomyopathy phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefano Caselli
- Cardiovascular Center Zürich, Klinik im Park, Zürich, Switzerland
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13
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Abela M, Sharma S. Abnormal ECG Findings in Athletes: Clinical Evaluation and Considerations. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE 2019; 21:95. [PMID: 31865466 DOI: 10.1007/s11936-019-0794-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation with electrocardiography is normal practice for most sporting bodies. Awareness about sudden cardiac death in athletes and recognizing how screening can help identify vulnerable athletes have empowered different sporting disciplines to invest in the wellbeing of their athletes. RECENT FINDINGS Discerning physiological electrical alterations due to athletic training from those representing cardiac pathology may be challenging. The mode of investigation of affected athletes is dependent on the electrical anomaly and the disease(s) in question. This review will highlight specific pathological ECG patterns that warrant assessment and surveillance, together with an in-depth review of the recommended algorithm for evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Abela
- Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St. George's, University of London, St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
- University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St. George's, University of London, St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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14
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Sharma S, Drezner JA, Baggish A, Papadakis M, Wilson MG, Prutkin JM, La Gerche A, Ackerman MJ, Borjesson M, Salerno JC, Asif IM, Owens DS, Chung EH, Emery MS, Froelicher VF, Heidbuchel H, Adamuz C, Asplund CA, Cohen G, Harmon KG, Marek JC, Molossi S, Niebauer J, Pelto HF, Perez MV, Riding NR, Saarel T, Schmied CM, Shipon DM, Stein R, Vetter VL, Pelliccia A, Corrado D. International recommendations for electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes. Eur Heart J 2019; 39:1466-1480. [PMID: 28329355 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehw631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality in athletes during sport. A variety of mostly hereditary, structural, or electrical cardiac disorders are associated with SCD in young athletes, the majority of which can be identified or suggested by abnormalities on a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Whether used for diagnostic or screening purposes, physicians responsible for the cardiovascular care of athletes should be knowledgeable and competent in ECG interpretation in athletes. However, in most countries a shortage of physician expertise limits wider application of the ECG in the care of the athlete. A critical need exists for physician education in modern ECG interpretation that distinguishes normal physiological adaptations in athletes from distinctly abnormal findings suggestive of underlying pathology. Since the original 2010 European Society of Cardiology recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes, ECG standards have evolved quickly over the last decade; pushed by a growing body of scientific data that both tests proposed criteria sets and establishes new evidence to guide refinements. On 26-27 February 2015, an international group of experts in sports cardiology, inherited cardiac disease, and sports medicine convened in Seattle, Washington, to update contemporary standards for ECG interpretation in athletes. The objective of the meeting was to define and revise ECG interpretation standards based on new and emerging research and to develop a clear guide to the proper evaluation of ECG abnormalities in athletes. This statement represents an international consensus for ECG interpretation in athletes and provides expert opinion-based recommendations linking specific ECG abnormalities and the secondary evaluation for conditions associated with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Sharma
- Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St George's, University of London, UK
| | - Jonathan A Drezner
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aaron Baggish
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusettes General Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St George's, University of London, UK
| | - Mathew G Wilson
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
| | - Jordan M Prutkin
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andre La Gerche
- Department of Cardiology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, MN, USA
| | - Mats Borjesson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Jack C Salerno
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Irfan M Asif
- Department of Family Medicine, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC, USA
| | - David S Owens
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eugene H Chung
- Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, NC, USA
| | - Michael S Emery
- Center of Cardiovascular Care in Athletics, Indiana University School of Medicine, IN, USA
| | | | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Department of Cardiology, Arrhythmology Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.,Department of Cardiology, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carmen Adamuz
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
| | | | - Gordon Cohen
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, CA, USA
| | - Kimberly G Harmon
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Silvana Molossi
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, TX, USA
| | - Josef Niebauer
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Austria
| | - Hank F Pelto
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marco V Perez
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Nathan R Riding
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
| | - Tess Saarel
- Pediatric Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA
| | | | - David M Shipon
- Heart Center of Philadelphia, Jefferson University Hospitals, PA, USA
| | - Ricardo Stein
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porte Allegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Italy
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15
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Sawada H, Mitani Y, Nakayama T, Fukushima H, Kogaki S, Igarashi T, Ichida F, Ono Y, Nakanishi T, Doi S, Ishikawa S, Matsushima M, Yamada O, Saji T. Detection of Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension by School Electrocardiography Mass Screening. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019; 199:1397-1406. [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201802-0375oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Sawada
- Department of Pediatrics, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Yoshihide Mitani
- Department of Pediatrics, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Tomotaka Nakayama
- Department of Pediatrics, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Fukushima
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigetoyo Kogaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Igarashi
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Fukiko Ichida
- Department of Pediatrics, Toyama University School of Medicine, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yasuo Ono
- Department of Cardiology, Shizuoka Children’s Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Toshio Nakanishi
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shozaburo Doi
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiro Ishikawa
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Fukuoka Children’s Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan; and
| | - Masaki Matsushima
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Social Insurance Chukyo Hospital, Aichi, Japan
| | - Osamu Yamada
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Saji
- Department of Pediatrics, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
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16
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Chao WH, Su FY, Lin F, Yu YS, Lin GM. Association of electrocardiographic left and right ventricular hypertrophy with physical fitness of military males: The CHIEF study. Eur J Sport Sci 2019; 19:1214-1220. [PMID: 30955480 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1595741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the association of electrocardiographic (ECG) left and/or right ventricular hypertrophy (LVH and RVH) with physical fitness of military males. METHODS We used a military cohort of 2587 males, who were on average 29.1 years of age, from the cardiorespiratory fitness and hospitalization events in armed forces (CHIEF) study in Taiwan for the analysis. Isolated ECG-LVH (n = 779) was diagnosed by either the Sokolow-Lyon or Cornell voltage criteria. Isolated ECG-RVH (n = 234) was defined by either the Sokolow-Lyon or Myers et al. voltage criteria. Combined ECG-LVH/RVH (n = 140) was defined as those who met the voltage criteria for both LVH and RVH. The other ECGs were defined as unaffected (n = 1434). Physical fitness was evaluated by the upper and lower 16% exercise performance (beyond 1-standard deviation) in 3000-meter run, 2-minute sit-ups, and 2-minute push-ups. All procedures were standardized and monitored by unified computerized scoring systems. A multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship. RESULTS Compared with unaffected participants, those with an isolated ECG-LVH were tended to have a better 3000-meter run performance (odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals: 1.22 [0.99-1.50], p-value = 0.064) after adjusting for age, service specialty, body mass index, mean blood pressure, smoking status, alcohol intake, hemoglobin level, and exercise frequency. By contrast, those with an isolated ECG-RVH were tended to have a worse 2-minute sit-up performance (OR: 1.46 [0.99-2.16], p-value = 0.054). CONCLUSION Military males with ECG-LVH and/or ECG-RVH compared to unaffected participants may have diverse exercise performances. However, these observations narrowly failed to reach statistical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hsiung Chao
- Department of Applied Mathematics, National Dong Hwa University , Hualien , Taiwan
| | - Fang-Ying Su
- Biotechnology R&D Center, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch , Hsinchu , Taiwan
| | - Felicia Lin
- Department of Medicine, Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital , Hualien , Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shun Yu
- Department of Medicine, Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital , Hualien , Taiwan
| | - Gen-Min Lin
- Department of Medicine, Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital , Hualien , Taiwan.,Departments of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center , Taipei , Taiwan.,College of Science and Engineering, National Dong Hwa University , Hualien , Taiwan
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17
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Abstract
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of death in athletes. A large proportion of these deaths are associated with undiagnosed cardiovascular disease. Screening for high-risk individuals enables early detection of pathology, as well as permitting lifestyle modification or therapeutic intervention.ECG changes in athletes occur as a result of electrical and structural adaptations secondary to repeated bouts of exercise. Such changes are common and may overlap with patterns suggestive of underlying cardiovascular disease. Correct interpretation is therefore essential, in order to differentiate physiology from pathology. Erroneous interpretation may result in false reassurance or expensive investigations for further evaluation and unnecessary disqualification from competitive sports.Interpretation of the athlete's ECG has evolved over the past 12 years, beginning with the 2005 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) consensus, progressing to the ESC recommendations (2010), Seattle Criteria (2013) and the 'refined' criteria (2014). This evolution culminated in the recently published international recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes (2017), which has led to a significant reduction in false positives and screening-associated costs. This review aims to describe the evolution of the current knowledge on ECG interpretation as well as future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyee Basu
- Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK.
| | - Aneil Malhotra
- Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK
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18
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McClean G, Riding NR, Pieles G, Watt V, Adamuz C, Sharma S, George KP, Oxborough D, Wilson MG. Diagnostic accuracy and Bayesian analysis of new international ECG recommendations in paediatric athletes. Heart 2018; 105:152-159. [PMID: 30228247 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2018-313466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Historically, electrocardiographic (ECG) interpretation criteria for athletes were only applicable to adults. New international recommendations now account for athletes ≤16 years, but their clinical appropriateness is unknown. We sought to establish the diagnostic accuracy of new international ECG recommendations against the Seattle criteria and 2010 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommendations in paediatric athletes using receiver operator curve analysis. Clinical context was calculated using Bayesian analysis. METHODS 876 Arab and 428 black male paediatric athletes (11-18 years) were evaluated by medical questionnaire, physical examination, ECG and echocardiographic assessment. ECGs were retrospectively analysed according to the three criteria. RESULTS Thirteen (1.0%) athletes were diagnosed with cardiac pathology that may predispose to sudden cardiac arrest/death (SCA/D) (8 (0.9%) Arab and (5 (1.2%) black)). Diagnostic accuracy was poor (0.68, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.82) for 2010 ESC recommendations, fair (0.70, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.85) for Seattle criteria and fair (0.77, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.93) for international recommendations. False-positive rates were 41.0% for 2010 ESC recommendations, 21.8% for Seattle criteria and 6.8% for international recommendations. International recommendations provided a positive (+LR) and negative (-LR) post-test likelihood ratio of 9.0 (95% CI 5.1 to 13.1) and 0.4 (95% CI 0.2 to 0.7), respectively. CONCLUSION In Arab and black male paediatric athletes, new international recommendations outperform both the Seattle criteria and 2010 ESC recommendations, reducing false positive rates, while yielding a 'fair' diagnostic accuracy for cardiac pathology that may predispose to SCA/D. In clinical context, the 'chance' of detecting cardiac pathology within a paediatric male athlete with a positive ECG (+LR=9.0) was 8.3%, whereas a negative ECG (-LR=0.4) was 0.4%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin McClean
- Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.,Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Nathan R Riding
- Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Guido Pieles
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Centre, Congenital Heart Unit, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, UK
| | - Victoria Watt
- Department of Sports Medicine, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Carmen Adamuz
- Department of Sports Medicine, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, St Georges University of London, London, UK
| | - Keith P George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Oxborough
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mathew G Wilson
- Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.,Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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19
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Prutkin JM, Wilson MG. Electrocardiography in athletes: normal and abnormal findings. Heart 2018; 104:1902-1909. [PMID: 30121634 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2017-312901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many sporting organisations recommend a pre-participation ECG to screen for disorders which predispose to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The ability of the ECG to perform accurately is dependent on the ECG criteria used and the experience of the operator. There have been several ECG criteria over the last decade, though these were recently superseded with the publication of the 'International Consensus Criteria for ECG Interpretation in Athletes'. These criteria use the latest evidence to improve specificity while maintaining sensitivity for ECG-detectable pathologies associated with SCA. Accordingly, this review describes the normal, borderline and abnormal ECG findings in an asymptomatic athlete aged 12-35 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M Prutkin
- Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mathew G Wilson
- Sports Medicine Department, ASPETAR Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.,Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
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20
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Beale AL, Julliard MV, Maziarski P, Ziltener JL, Burri H, Meyer P. Electrocardiographic findings in elite professional cyclists: The 2017 international recommendations in practice. J Sci Med Sport 2018; 22:380-384. [PMID: 30001949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To categorize ECG findings into normal, borderline or abnormal in a team of professional elite cyclists according to the 2017 international recommendations. DESIGN A cross-sectional study was performed. METHODS Twelve-lead ECGs collected between 2012 and 2015 as part of an annual routine examination for a team of professional elite cyclists were analysed, and findings classified as normal, borderline or abnormal according to the 2017 recommendations. Information on exercise capacity testing was also collected. RESULTS A total of 43 professional cyclists, all Caucasian males ranging between 21 and 38years of age, were included. Given most were followed up for multiple years, a total of 103 ECGs were collected. Normal variations were found in 43 (100%) athletes; borderline findings in 4 (9.3%), and 2 (4.7%) athletes had abnormal findings. No pathology was identified on further investigation of the four cyclists with two concurrent borderline or any abnormal ECG findings, reflecting a false positive rate of 9.3%. CONCLUSIONS In this team of professional cyclists, the prevalence of abnormal ECG findings requiring further investigation, and the false positive rate were low, despite a very high prevalence of normal variations expected in athletes. This may be as a result of heightened specificity of the new international recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Beale
- Cardiology Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland; Monash University Central Clinical School, Australia.
| | | | | | - Jean-Luc Ziltener
- Centre for Sports Medicine and Exercise, Clinique la Colline, Switzerland
| | - Haran Burri
- Cardiology Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Meyer
- Cardiology Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland
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21
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Miars CW, Stamatis A, Morgan GB, Drezner JA. Cardiovascular Screening Practices and Attitudes From the NCAA Autonomous "Power" 5 Conferences. Sports Health 2018; 10:547-551. [PMID: 29792780 PMCID: PMC6204637 DOI: 10.1177/1941738118775039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The development of athlete-specific electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation standards, along with recent rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes being higher than previously estimated, has heightened the debate in the sports medicine community regarding cardiovascular screening of the college athlete, including whether certain high-risk subsets, such as male basketball athletes, should undergo more intensive screening. HYPOTHESIS: ECG and/or echocardiography screening in National Collegiate Athletic Association Autonomous 5 Division I (A5DI) schools will be more common than previous reports, and there will be more frequent use of noninvasive cardiac screening for men's basketball players than the general athlete population. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, quantitative study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. METHODS: The head team physician for each of the 65 schools in the A5DI conferences was contacted to complete an anonymous survey regarding cardiovascular screening practices at their institution. The survey inquired about current screening protocols, whether SCD epidemiology (SCD-E) was considered in establishing those practices, and whether awareness of present epidemiology altered physician attitudes toward screening. RESULTS: A total of 45 of the 65 team physicians (69%) responded. All schools reported performing history and a physical evaluation. While 17 (38%) perform only history and physical, 26 (58%) also include an ECG, and 12 (27%) include echocardiography for all student-athletes. Specifically for male basketball athletes, 10 (22%) schools perform only history and physical, 32 (71%) include ECG, and 20 (45%) include echocardiography. Additionally, 64% reported using SCD-E in developing their screening protocol. Those that had not considered SCD-E indicated they were unlikely to change their screening protocol when presented with current SCD-E. CONCLUSION: The majority (62%) of A5DI institutions include ECG and/or echocardiography as part of their cardiovascular screening of all athletes, increasing to 78% when specifically analyzing male basketball athletes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A5DI institutions, presumably with greater resources, have largely implemented more intensive cardiovascular screening than just history and physical for all student-athletes and specifically for men's basketball-the athlete group at greatest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Stamatis
- Department of Sport and Wellness, State University of New York Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York
| | - Grant B Morgan
- Department of Educational Psychology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
| | - Jonathan A Drezner
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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22
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Athlete's ECG - Simple Tips for Navigation. Heart Lung Circ 2018; 27:1042-1051. [PMID: 30032755 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2018.04.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Regular exercise training results in structural and electrical cardiac adaptations which are reflected in the resting 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG), thus an athlete's ECG can be quite different to that of a sedentary person of the same age, gender and ethnicity. This has been recognised as an issue in the setting of pre-participation ECG screening of athletes in whom false positive findings are commonplace when using normative ECG values derived from sedentary populations. As such, athlete ECG interpretation guidelines have been devised and modified several times over the past decade, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of athletes undergoing unnecessary secondary investigations to exclude cardiac pathology whilst maintaining the sensitivity of the ECG in detecting cardiac diseases associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). By no means exhaustive, the following series of athlete ECG examples is aimed at providing the reader with a basic understanding of what ECG changes are considered normal for an athlete, and what changes should prompt further investigation to exclude cardiac pathology, even in the absence of symptoms.
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23
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Kamperidis V, Nihoyannopoulos P, Bax JJ, Delgado V. Assessing the Right Ventricle. Echocardiography 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71617-6_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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24
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D'Ascenzi F, Pelliccia A, Solari M, Piu P, Loiacono F, Anselmi F, Caselli S, Focardi M, Bonifazi M, Mondillo S. Normative Reference Values of Right Heart in Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2017; 30:845-858.e2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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25
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Maillot N, Guenancia C, Yameogo NV, Gudjoncik A, Garnier F, Lorgis L, Chagué F, Cottin Y. Impact of the dynamic and static component of the sport practised for electrocardiogram analysis in screening athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2017; 28:575-584. [PMID: 28730749 DOI: 10.1111/sms.12949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To interpret the electrocardiogram (ECG) of athletes, the recommendations of the ESC and the Seattle criteria define type 1 peculiarities, those induced by training, and type 2, those not induced by training, to rule out cardiomyopathy. The specificity of the screening was improved by Sheikh who defined "Refined Criteria," which includes a group of intermediate peculiarities. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of static and dynamic components on the prevalence of different types of abnormalities. The ECGs of 1030 athletes performed during preparticipation screening were interpreted using these three classifications. Our work revealed 62/16%, 69/13%, and 71/7% of type 1 peculiarities and type 2 abnormalities for the ESC, Seattle, and Refined Criteria algorithms, respectively(P<.001). For type 2 abnormalities, three independent factors were found for the ESC and Seattle criteria: age, Afro-Caribbean origin, and the dynamic component with, for the latter, an OR[95% CI] of 2.35[1.28-4.33] (P=.006) and 1.90[1.03-3.51] (P=.041), respectively. In contrast, only the Afro-Caribbean origin was associated with type 2 abnormalities using the Refined Criteria: OR[95% CI] 2.67[1.60-4.46] (P<.0001). The Refined Criteria classified more athletes in the type 1 category and fewer in the type 2 category compared with the ESC and Seattle algorithms. Contrary to previous studies, a high dynamic component was not associated with type 2 abnormalities when the Refined Criteria were used; only the Afro-Caribbean origin remained associated. Further research is necessary to better understand adaptations with regard to duration and thus improve the modern criteria for ECG screening in athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Maillot
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - C Guenancia
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France.,LPPCM, INSERM UMR 866, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - N V Yameogo
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - A Gudjoncik
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France.,LPPCM, INSERM UMR 866, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - F Garnier
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - L Lorgis
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France.,LPPCM, INSERM UMR 866, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - F Chagué
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France
| | - Y Cottin
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France.,LPPCM, INSERM UMR 866, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
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26
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Sharma S, Drezner JA, Baggish A, Papadakis M, Wilson MG, Prutkin JM, La Gerche A, Ackerman MJ, Borjesson M, Salerno JC, Asif IM, Owens DS, Chung EH, Emery MS, Froelicher VF, Heidbuchel H, Adamuz C, Asplund CA, Cohen G, Harmon KG, Marek JC, Molossi S, Niebauer J, Pelto HF, Perez MV, Riding NR, Saarel T, Schmied CM, Shipon DM, Stein R, Vetter VL, Pelliccia A, Corrado D. International Recommendations for Electrocardiographic Interpretation in Athletes. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017; 69:1057-1075. [PMID: 28231933 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality in athletes during sport. A variety of mostly hereditary, structural, or electrical cardiac disorders are associated with SCD in young athletes, the majority of which can be identified or suggested by abnormalities on a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Whether used for diagnostic or screening purposes, physicians responsible for the cardiovascular care of athletes should be knowledgeable and competent in ECG interpretation in athletes. However, in most countries a shortage of physician expertise limits wider application of the ECG in the care of the athlete. A critical need exists for physician education in modern ECG interpretation that distinguishes normal physiological adaptations in athletes from distinctly abnormal findings suggestive of underlying pathology. Since the original 2010 European Society of Cardiology recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes, ECG standards have evolved quickly over the last decade; pushed by a growing body of scientific data that both tests proposed criteria sets and establishes new evidence to guide refinements. On February 26-27, 2015, an international group of experts in sports cardiology, inherited cardiac disease, and sports medicine convened in Seattle, Washington, to update contemporary standards for ECG interpretation in athletes. The objective of the meeting was to define and revise ECG interpretation standards based on new and emerging research and to develop a clear guide to the proper evaluation of ECG abnormalities in athletes. This statement represents an international consensus for ECG interpretation in athletes and provides expert opinion-based recommendations linking specific ECG abnormalities and the secondary evaluation for conditions associated with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Sharma
- Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St George's University of London, United Kingdom.
| | - Jonathan A Drezner
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Aaron Baggish
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St George's University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew G Wilson
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
| | - Jordan M Prutkin
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Andre La Gerche
- Department of Cardiology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Mats Borjesson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Jack C Salerno
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Irfan M Asif
- Department of Family Medicine, University of South Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina
| | - David S Owens
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Eugene H Chung
- Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Michael S Emery
- Center of Cardiovascular Care in Athletics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | | | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Department of Cardiology, Arrhythmology Hasselt University, Belgium; Department of Cardiology, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carmen Adamuz
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
| | | | - Gordon Cohen
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Kimberly G Harmon
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Silvana Molossi
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Josef Niebauer
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Austria
| | - Hank F Pelto
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Marco V Perez
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Nathan R Riding
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
| | - Tess Saarel
- Pediatric Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | - David M Shipon
- Heart Center of Philadelphia, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ricardo Stein
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porte Allegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Italy
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27
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Meng FC, Lin YP, Su FY, Yu YS, Lin GM. Association between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic right ventricular hypertrophy in a military cohort in Taiwan: The CHIEF study: ECG criteria for RVH. Indian Heart J 2017. [PMID: 28648425 PMCID: PMC5485438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ihj.2017.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We compared electrocardiographic and echocardiographic right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in 264 military members in Taiwan. The correlations of the Myers et al. and Sokolow-Lyon criteria with RV wall thickness were low (r < 0.1). Our data supported the American guidance that RVH voltage criteria violations should not receive further echocardiographic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan-Chun Meng
- Departments of Medicine, Hualien-Armed Forces General Hospital, Hualien, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Po Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Ying Su
- Department of Public Health, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shun Yu
- Departments of Medicine, Hualien-Armed Forces General Hospital, Hualien, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Gen-Min Lin
- Departments of Medicine, Hualien-Armed Forces General Hospital, Hualien, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Electric Engineering, National Dong-Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan.
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28
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Drezner JA, Sharma S, Baggish A, Papadakis M, Wilson MG, Prutkin JM, Gerche AL, Ackerman MJ, Borjesson M, Salerno JC, Asif IM, Owens DS, Chung EH, Emery MS, Froelicher VF, Heidbuchel H, Adamuz C, Asplund CA, Cohen G, Harmon KG, Marek JC, Molossi S, Niebauer J, Pelto HF, Perez MV, Riding NR, Saarel T, Schmied CM, Shipon DM, Stein R, Vetter VL, Pelliccia A, Corrado D. International criteria for electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes: Consensus statement. Br J Sports Med 2017; 51:704-731. [PMID: 28258178 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality in athletes during sport. A variety of mostly hereditary, structural or electrical cardiac disorders are associated with SCD in young athletes, the majority of which can be identified or suggested by abnormalities on a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Whether used for diagnostic or screening purposes, physicians responsible for the cardiovascular care of athletes should be knowledgeable and competent in ECG interpretation in athletes. However, in most countries a shortage of physician expertise limits wider application of the ECG in the care of the athlete. A critical need exists for physician education in modern ECG interpretation that distinguishes normal physiological adaptations in athletes from distinctly abnormal findings suggestive of underlying pathology. Since the original 2010 European Society of Cardiology recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes, ECG standards have evolved quickly, advanced by a growing body of scientific data and investigations that both examine proposed criteria sets and establish new evidence to guide refinements. On 26-27 February 2015, an international group of experts in sports cardiology, inherited cardiac disease, and sports medicine convened in Seattle, Washington (USA), to update contemporary standards for ECG interpretation in athletes. The objective of the meeting was to define and revise ECG interpretation standards based on new and emerging research and to develop a clear guide to the proper evaluation of ECG abnormalities in athletes. This statement represents an international consensus for ECG interpretation in athletes and provides expert opinion-based recommendations linking specific ECG abnormalities and the secondary evaluation for conditions associated with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Drezner
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Aaron Baggish
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, US
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiology Clinical Academic Group, St. George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Mathew G Wilson
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jordan M Prutkin
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andre La Gerche
- Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Paediatric, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mats Borjesson
- Department of Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg, Sweden.,Department of Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Jack C Salerno
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, US
| | - Irfan M Asif
- Department of Family Medicine, University of South Carolina, Greenville, USA
| | - David S Owens
- Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eugene H Chung
- Division of Cardiology, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael S Emery
- Center of Cardiovascular Care in Athletics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | | | - Carmen Adamuz
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Gordon Cohen
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA.,Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kimberly G Harmon
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Silvana Molossi
- Division of Pediatric, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Josef Niebauer
- University Institute of Sports Medicine, Research Institute of Molecular Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Hank F Pelto
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marco V Perez
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nathan R Riding
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tess Saarel
- Department of Pediatrics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - David M Shipon
- Heart Centre of Philadelphia, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ricardo Stein
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Victoria L Vetter
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Domenico Corrado
- Department of Cardiac Science, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy.,Department of Thoracic Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy.,Department of Vascular Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy
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29
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Abstract
This article summarizes the role of the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) for the clinical care of athletes, with particular reference to the influence of age, gender, ethnicity, and type of sport on the appearance of the ECG, and its role in differentiating physiologic exercise-related changes from pathologic conditions implicated in sudden cardiac death (SCD). The article also explores the potential role of the ECG in detecting athletes at risk of SCD. In addition, the article reviews the evolution of ECG interpretation criteria and emphasizes the limitations of the ECG as well as the potential for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tee Joo Yeo
- Cardiac Department, National University Heart Centre, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 678267, Singapore
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Cardiovascular & Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, St George's University NHS Foundation Trust, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
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30
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Poirier P, Sharma S, Pipe A. The Atlantic Rift: Guidelines for Athletic Screening-Where Should Canada Stand? Can J Cardiol 2016; 32:400-6. [PMID: 27017148 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2016.02.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a young seemingly healthy athlete is a tragic and often highly publicized event. Preparticipation screening aims to identify those affected by cardiovascular diseases who may be at higher risk of SCD during sports participation. There are conflicting recommendations from the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology regarding screening electrocardiograms (ECGs) before participation in sports. The use of an ECG as a screening strategy has been questioned, with a large number of abnormal test results observed in athletes resulting from the electrocardiographic changes that occur in a highly trained individual overlapping with findings suggestive of a pathologic condition. An abnormal 12-lead ECG triggers further examinations, which are expensive given the low diagnostic yield of most abnormal electrocardiographic patterns. Universal screening of young athletes poses logistic and financial challenges. There are currently no Canadian guidelines regarding preparticipation screening of athletes. Screening of athletes ignores the much larger group of young nonathletes who participate in vigorous recreational activity and who collectively represent a population in which a much larger number of SCDs can be predicted to occur. While waiting for the best screening approach in Canada, increased awareness of and access to automated external defibrillators, along with training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can help reduce the number of SCDs. In some jurisdictions, electrocardiographic screening has been eschewed in favour of such an approach. Specific physician training in the field of sports cardiology with availability of experts throughout Canada may be a useful start. We provide suggestions and call for the development of Canadian guidelines by appropriate organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Poirier
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Pipe
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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31
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Ghani S, Papadakis M, Kemp S, Zaidi A, Sheikh N, Gati S, Raju H, Smith A, Palmer C, Somauroo J, Sharma S. Results of a nationally implemented de novo cardiac screening programme in elite rugby players in England. Br J Sports Med 2016; 50:1338-1344. [PMID: 27340147 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Screening of young competitive athletes remains a contentious issue. In 2010, a nationwide cardiac screening for all elite rugby players was introduced in England. This provided a unique opportunity to prospectively assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a de novo, ECG-based cardiac screening programme. METHODS Between 2010 and 2012, 1191 rugby players aged ≥14 years underwent cardiac screening with a health questionnaire, 12-lead ECG and a consultation with a cardiologist. The players with concerning findings on initial evaluation were offered on-site transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Athletes were referred for further investigations as deemed necessary. The overall cost of the screening programme was estimated. RESULTS After initial evaluation, 9.7% of athletes underwent on-site TTE; 8.2% underwent on-site TTE due to ECG anomalies and 1.4% underwent on-site TTE due to concerns on the questionnaire. After TTE, only 2.9% of the total cohort was referred for further evaluation. Two players were diagnosed with potentially serious conditions; one with Wolff-Parkinson-White, who resumed competition after catheter ablation, and one with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, who withdrew from competition. During a mean follow-up of 52.8±5.5 months, none of the players who were reassured experienced any adverse cardiac events. The total cost of the screening programme was £59 875, which averaged to a cost of £50 per player or £29 938 per condition identified. Application of refined ECG criteria would reduce the ECG false-positive rate to 4.9%. CONCLUSIONS Preparticipation cardiac screening with 12-lead ECG is feasible. Refinement of the ECG criteria, the use of on-site TTE and expert setting can minimise the burden of unnecessary investigations and reduce costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saqib Ghani
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Michael Papadakis
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Abbas Zaidi
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Nabeel Sheikh
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Sabiha Gati
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Hariharan Raju
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Andy Smith
- Mid Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust, Wakefield, UK.,RWC England 2015 Medical Advisory Group.,Premiership Rugby, Twickenham, UK
| | | | - John Somauroo
- Countess of Chester NHS Hospital Trust, UK.,Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Hospital Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Cardiovascular Sciences Research Centre, Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
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32
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Interpretation of the Electrocardiogram in Athletes. Can J Cardiol 2016; 32:438-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2015.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
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33
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Lüscher TF. Heart failure and comorbidities: renal failure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and inflammation. Eur Heart J 2016; 36:1415-7. [PMID: 26074620 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Lüscher
- Editor-in-Chief, Zurich Heart House, Careum Campus, Moussonstrasse 4, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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34
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Galderisi M, Cardim N, D'Andrea A, Bruder O, Cosyns B, Davin L, Donal E, Edvardsen T, Freitas A, Habib G, Kitsiou A, Plein S, Petersen SE, Popescu BA, Schroeder S, Burgstahler C, Lancellotti P. The multi-modality cardiac imaging approach to the Athlete's heart: an expert consensus of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2016; 16:353. [PMID: 25681828 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jeu323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The term 'athlete's heart' refers to a clinical picture characterized by a slow heart rate and enlargement of the heart. A multi-modality imaging approach to the athlete's heart aims to differentiate physiological changes due to intensive training in the athlete's heart from serious cardiac diseases with similar morphological features. Imaging assessment of the athlete's heart should begin with a thorough echocardiographic examination.Left ventricular (LV) wall thickness by echocardiography can contribute to the distinction between athlete's LV hypertrophy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). LV end-diastolic diameter becomes larger (>55 mm) than the normal limits only in end-stage HCM patients when the LV ejection fraction is <50%. Patients with HCM also show early impairment of LV diastolic function, whereas athletes have normal diastolic function.When echocardiography cannot provide a clear differential diagnosis, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging should be performed.With CMR, accurate morphological and functional assessment can be made. Tissue characterization by late gadolinium enhancement may show a distinctive, non-ischaemic pattern in HCM and a variety of other myocardial conditions such as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or myocarditis. The work-up of athletes with suspected coronary artery disease should start with an exercise ECG. In athletes with inconclusive exercise ECG results, exercise stress echocardiography should be considered. Nuclear cardiology techniques, coronary cardiac tomography (CCT) and/or CMR may be performed in selected cases. Owing to radiation exposure and the young age of most athletes, the use of CCT and nuclear cardiology techniques should be restricted to athletes with unclear stress echocardiography or CMR.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/diagnosis
- Cardiac Imaging Techniques/methods
- Cardiac-Gated Single-Photon Emission Computer-Assisted Tomography
- Cardiomegaly/diagnosis
- Cardiomegaly, Exercise-Induced
- Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/diagnosis
- Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnosis
- Consensus
- Contrast Media
- Death, Sudden, Cardiac/prevention & control
- Echocardiography, Stress/methods
- Electrocardiography
- European Union
- Gadolinium
- Humans
- Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/diagnosis
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Societies, Medical
- Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
- Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods
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35
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D'Andrea A, La Gerche A, Golia E, Padalino R, Calabrò R, Russo MG, Bossone E. Physiologic and pathophysiologic changes in the right heart in highly trained athletes. Herz 2016; 40:369-78. [PMID: 25822292 DOI: 10.1007/s00059-015-4220-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Exercise causes changes in the heart in response to the hemodynamic demands of increased systemic and pulmonary requirements during exercise. Understanding these adaptations is of great importance, since they may overlap with those caused by pathological conditions. Initial descriptions of athlete's heart focused mainly on chronic adaptation of the left heart to training. In recent years, the substantial structural and functional adaptations of the right heart have been documented, highlighting the complex interplay with left heart. Moreover, there is evolving evidence of acute and chronic cardiac damage, mainly involving the right heart, which may predispose subjects to atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, configuring an exercise-induced cardiomyopathy. The aim of this article is to review the current knowledge on the physiologic and pathophysiologic changes in the right heart in highly trained athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D'Andrea
- Second University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Via M. Schipa 44, 80122, Naples, Italy,
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36
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Chatard JC, Mujika I, Goiriena JJ, Carré F. Screening young athletes for prevention of sudden cardiac death: Practical recommendations for sports physicians. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2015; 26:362-74. [PMID: 26432052 DOI: 10.1111/sms.12502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Regular intensive exercise in athletes increases the relative risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) compared with the relatively sedentary population. Most cases of SCD are due to silent cardiovascular diseases, and pre-participation screening of athletes at risk of SCD is thus of major importance. However, medical guidelines and recommendations differ widely between countries. In Italy, the National Health System recommends pre-participation screening for all competitive athletes including personal and family history, a physical examination, and a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). In the United States, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend a pre-participation screening program limited to the use of specific questionnaires and a clinical examination. The value of a 12-lead ECG is debated based on issues surrounding cost-efficiency and feasibility. The aim of this review was to focus on (i) the incidence rate of cardiac diseases in relation to SCD; (ii) the value of conducting a questionnaire and a physical examination; (iii) the value of a 12-lead resting ECG; (iv) the importance of other cardiac evaluations in the prevention of SCD; and (v) the best practice for pre-participation screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-C Chatard
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Medicine Jacques Lisfranc, University of Lyon-Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - I Mujika
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Basque Country, Spain.,School of Kinesiology and Health Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile
| | - J J Goiriena
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Basque Country, Spain
| | - F Carré
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
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37
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Zaidi A, Sheikh N, Jongman JK, Gati S, Panoulas VF, Carr-White G, Papadakis M, Sharma R, Behr ER, Sharma S. Clinical Differentiation Between Physiological Remodeling and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in Athletes With Marked Electrocardiographic Repolarization Anomalies. J Am Coll Cardiol 2015; 65:2702-11. [PMID: 26112193 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physiological cardiac adaptation to regular exercise, including biventricular dilation and T-wave inversion (TWI), may create diagnostic overlap with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to assess the accuracy of diagnostic criteria for ARVC when applied to athletes exhibiting electrocardiographic TWI and to identify discriminators between physiology and disease. METHODS The study population consisted of athletes with TWI (n = 45), athletes without TWI (n = 35), and ARVC patients (n = 35). Subjects underwent electrocardiography (ECG), signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG), echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI), Holter monitoring, and exercise testing. RESULTS There were no electrical, structural, or functional cardiac differences between athletes exhibiting TWI and athletes without TWI. When athletes were compared with ARVC patients, markers of physiological remodeling included early repolarization, biphasic TWI, voltage criteria for right ventricular (RV) or left ventricular hypertrophy, and symmetrical cardiac enlargement. Indicators of RV pathology included the following: syncope; Q waves or precordial QRS amplitudes <1.8 mV; 3 abnormal SAECG parameters; delayed gadolinium enhancement, RV ejection fraction ≤45%, or wall motion abnormalities at CMRI; >1,000 ventricular extrasystoles (or >500 non-RV outflow tract) per 24 h; and symptoms, ventricular tachyarrhythmias, or attenuated blood pressure response during exercise. Nonspecific parameters included the following: prolonged QRS terminal activation; ≤2 abnormal SAECG parameters; RV dilation without wall motion abnormalities; RV outflow tract ectopy; and exercise-induced T-wave pseudonormalization. CONCLUSIONS TWI and balanced biventricular dilation are likely to represent benign manifestations of training in asymptomatic athletes without relevant family history. Diagnostic criteria for ARVC are nonspecific in such individuals. Comprehensive testing using widely available techniques can effectively differentiate borderline cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Zaidi
- St. George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nabeel Sheikh
- St. George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sabiha Gati
- St. George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vasileios F Panoulas
- Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Rajan Sharma
- St. George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elijah R Behr
- St. George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- St. George's University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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38
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39
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Martinez MW. Advanced Imaging of Athletes: Added Value of Coronary Computed Tomography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Clin Sports Med 2015; 34:433-48. [PMID: 26100420 DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac computed tomographic angiography have become important parts of the armamentarium for noninvasive diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Emerging technologies have produced faster imaging, lower radiation dose, improved spatial and temporal resolution, as well as a wealth of prognostic data to support usage. Investigating true pathologic disease as well as distinguishing normal from potentially dangerous is now increasingly more routine for the cardiologist in practice. This article investigates how advanced imaging technologies can assist the clinician when evaluating all athletes for pathologic disease that may put them at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Martinez
- Division of Cardiology, Lehigh Valley Health Network, 1250 South Cedar Crest Boulevard, Suite 300, Allentown, PA 18103, USA.
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40
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Evolving interpretation of the athlete's electrocardiogram: From European Society of Cardiology and Stanford criteria, to Seattle criteria and beyond. J Electrocardiol 2015; 48:283-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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41
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Jongman JK, Zaidi A, Muggenthaler M, Sharma S. Relationship between echocardiographic right-ventricular dimensions and signal-averaged electrocardiogram abnormalities in endurance athletes. Europace 2015; 17:1441-8. [DOI: 10.1093/europace/euv063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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42
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Claessen G, Brosnan M, La Gerche A, Heidbuchel H. Signs of RV overload on the athlete's ECG. J Electrocardiol 2015; 48:399-406. [PMID: 25771700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2015.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that regular intense endurance exercise can promote structural and electrical remodeling of the right ventricle (RV). These physiological changes can be profound and are frequently accompanied by ECG changes in the right precordial leads, thereby mimicking features observed in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Because the 12-lead ECG is used as both a screening and diagnostic tool for the detection of conditions associated with sudden death in athletes, it is of fundamental importance to have a good understanding of the ECG features that distinguish physiological adaptations to endurance exercise from those related to RV pathology as well as their potential overlap. This article describes ECG findings observed in healthy endurance athletes versus athletes with underlying RV pathology and illustrates their differentiation using 4 case presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Claessen
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Maria Brosnan
- St Vincent's Hospital Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Australia
| | - Andre La Gerche
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Hasselt University and Heart Center, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium
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43
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Riding NR, Sheikh N, Adamuz C, Watt V, Farooq A, Whyte GP, George KP, Drezner JA, Sharma S, Wilson MG. Comparison of three current sets of electrocardiographic interpretation criteria for use in screening athletes. Heart 2015; 101:384-90. [PMID: 25502812 PMCID: PMC4345900 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2014-306437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increasing number of sporting bodies report unacceptably high levels of false-positive ECGs when undertaking pre-participation cardiac screening. To address this issue, modified ECG interpretation criteria have become available for use within athletes. OBJECTIVE This study assessed the accuracy of the new 2014 'Refined Criteria' against the 2013 Seattle Criteria and the 2010 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommendations in a cohort of Arabic, black and Caucasian athletes. METHODS 2491 male athletes (1367 Arabic, 748 black and 376 Caucasian) undertook pre-participation screening including a 12-lead ECG, with further investigation(s) upon indication. RESULTS Ten athletes (0.4%) were identified with cardiac pathology; seven with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM; five black and two Arabic) and three Arabs with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). All three ECG criteria were 100% sensitive identifying all cases of HCM and WPW. The 2014 Refined Criteria reduced (p<0.0001) the prevalence of an abnormal ECG to 5.3% vs 11.6% (Seattle Criteria) and 22.3% (2010 ESC recommendations). The 2014 Refined Criteria significantly (p<0.0001) improved specificity (94.0%) across all ethnicities compared with the Seattle Criteria (87.5%) and ESC recommendations (76.6%). Black athletes continue to present a higher prevalence (p<0.0001) of abnormal ECGs compared with Arabic and Caucasian athletes (10% vs 3.6% and 2.1%). CONCLUSIONS The 2014 Refined Criteria for athlete ECG interpretation outperformed both the 2013 Seattle Criteria and the 2010 ESC recommendations by significantly reducing the number of false-positive ECGs in Arabic, black and Caucasian athletes while maintaining 100% sensitivity for serious cardiac pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Riding
- Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | - Nabeel Sheikh
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, St Georges University of London, UK
| | - Carmen Adamuz
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Victoria Watt
- Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdulaziz Farooq
- Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
| | - Gregory P Whyte
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | - Keith P George
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | - Jonathan A Drezner
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington USA
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, St Georges University of London, UK
| | - Mathew G Wilson
- Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar
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Guttmann OP, Mohiddin SA, Elliott PM. Almanac 2014: cardiomyopathies. COR ET VASA 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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45
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Berge HM, Isern CB, Berge E. Blood pressure and hypertension in athletes: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med 2015; 49:716-23. [DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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46
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Abstract
Physical activity confers substantial health benefits to healthy individuals and patients alike. Occasionally, however, exercise may act as a trigger for arrhythmic death in athletes who harbor an occult pathological substrate. The majority of sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) in young athletes (≤35 years old) are secondary to inherited cardiac diseases, while ischaemic heart disease predominates in older athletes. In the absence of compulsory national or international registries of SCD in athletes, it is difficult to define the exact scale of the problem. In addition, the lack of post-mortem evaluation by pathologists with expertise in cardiac adaptation to exercise and inherited cardiac diseases casts doubt to the reliability of the reported causes. The proposed preventative strategies focus primarily on preventing deaths by cardiovascular evaluation of athletes and the use of automated external defibrillators in athletic venues. Cardiovascular screening of first-degree relatives, though often neglected, has the potential to avert further tragedies given the inherited nature of most conditions predisposing to SCD in the young. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology and causes of SCD in athletes and explores potential prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D'Silva
- St George's University of London, St George's University Hospital Foundation NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael Papadakis
- St George's University of London, St George's University Hospital Foundation NHS Trust, London, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Sharma
- From St. George's University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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48
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Brosnan M, La Gerche A, Kalman J, Lo W, Fallon K, MacIsaac A, Prior DL. Comparison of frequency of significant electrocardiographic abnormalities in endurance versus nonendurance athletes. Am J Cardiol 2014; 113:1567-73. [PMID: 24641963 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.01.438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Most data assessing the accuracy of electrocardiographic (ECG) screening in identifying cardiac pathology in athletes are derived from relatively unselected cohorts of subjects involved in competitive sports. We hypothesized that the prevalence of ECG abnormalities may be greater in athletes performing the greatest combination of exercise intensity and duration, namely professional endurance athletes. A total of 1,007 male and 254 female elite adult athletes underwent cardiovascular screening inclusive of an electrocardiogram, interpreted using the 2010 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Training-related ECG changes (group 1) were more common in endurance athletes (EAs) than nonendurance athletes (NEAs; 90.8% vs 86.0%, p = 0.04), as were multiple (≥2) training-related changes (78.9% vs 53.5%, p <0.0001). Group 2 ECG changes (previously considered uncommon and training unrelated) were seen in 18.1% of subjects and were twice as prevalent in EAs compared with NEAs (29.9% vs 15.1%, p <0.0001). Right ventricular hypertrophy (4.4% EAs vs 1.5% NEAs, p <0.005) and deep right precordial T-wave inversion (14.3% EAs vs 4.7% NEAs, p <0.0001) were 3 times as common in EAs. Both group 1 and group 2 changes were similarly prevalent among elite male and female athletes and were more common in EAs regardless of gender. In conclusion, ECG abnormalities are very common in elite athletes and are more common in EAs than NEAs. Right ventricular hypertrophy and deep right precordial T-wave inversion are particularly common in EAs, possibly because of increased structural and/or electrical right ventricular remodeling in this subgroup. The predictive value of ECG screening and criteria for abnormal findings in elite EAs requires specific appraisal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Brosnan
- Department of Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; St Vincent's Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Andre La Gerche
- Department of Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; St Vincent's Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jon Kalman
- Melbourne Heart Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wilson Lo
- SportsMed ACT, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kieran Fallon
- Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Andrew MacIsaac
- Department of Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David L Prior
- Department of Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; St Vincent's Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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49
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To the Editor—ECG screening of athletes: Let us not forget the “how”. Heart Rhythm 2014; 11:e3-4; discussion e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2014.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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50
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Sheikh N, Papadakis M, Ghani S, Zaidi A, Gati S, Adami PE, Carré F, Schnell F, Wilson M, Avila P, McKenna W, Sharma S. Comparison of Electrocardiographic Criteria for the Detection of Cardiac Abnormalities in Elite Black and White Athletes. Circulation 2014; 129:1637-49. [DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.113.006179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Background—
Recent efforts have focused on improving the specificity of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) criteria for ECG interpretation in athletes. These criteria are derived predominantly from white athletes (WAs) and do not account for the effect of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity or novel research questioning the relevance of several isolated ECG patterns. We assessed the impact of the ESC criteria, the newly published Seattle criteria, and a group of proposed refined criteria in a large cohort of black athletes (BAs) and WAs.
Methods and Results—
Between 2000 and 2012, 1208 BAs were evaluated with history, examination, 12-lead ECG, and further investigations as appropriate. ECGs were retrospectively analyzed according to the ESC recommendations, Seattle criteria, and proposed refined criteria which exclude several specific ECG patterns when present in isolation. All 3 criteria were also applied to 4297 WAs and 103 young athletes with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The ESC recommendations raised suspicion of a cardiac abnormality in 40.4% of BAs and 16.2% of WAs. The Seattle criteria reduced abnormal ECGs to 18.4% in BAs and 7.1% in WAs. The refined criteria further reduced abnormal ECGs to 11.5% in BAs and 5.3% in WAs. All 3 criteria identified 98.1% of athletes with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Compared with ESC recommendations, the refined criteria improved specificity from 40.3% to 84.2% in BAs and from 73.8% to 94.1% in WAs without compromising the sensitivity of the ECG in detecting pathology.
Conclusion—
Refinement of current ECG screening criteria has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of false-positive ECGs in athletes, particularly BAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabeel Sheikh
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Michael Papadakis
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Saqib Ghani
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Abbas Zaidi
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Sabiha Gati
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Paolo Emilio Adami
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - François Carré
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Frédéric Schnell
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Mathew Wilson
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Paloma Avila
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - William McKenna
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
| | - Sanjay Sharma
- From St. George’s University of London, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., P.A., S.S.); University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK (N.S., M.P., S.G., A.Z., S.G., S.S.); Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy (P. Adami); French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Rennes, France (F.C., F.S.); ASPETAR, Department of Sports Medicine, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar (M.W.); and The Heart Hospital, London, UK (P. Avila, W.M.)
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