Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias in athletes: their causes and when to grant sports eligibility.
The clinical assessment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in trained athletes is of particular significance because of the recognition that young and otherwise healthy athletes may have unsuspected and potentially lethal cardiovascular disease, which can result in sudden arrhythmic death. Therefore, the risk associated with competitive sports and training in athletes with ventricular tachyarrhythmias is still not completely resolved. Ventricular arrhythmias are common in trained athletes and are usually not associated with underlying cardiovascular abnormalities. Recent studies have shown that such arrhythmias (in the absence of heart disease) do not convey adverse clinical significance and probably do not per se justify disqualification from competitive sports.
Biffi
Alessandro
A
National Institute of Sports Medicine, Italian Olympic Committee, Via dei Campi Sportivi 46, 00197 Rome, Italy. a.biffi@libero.it
D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D010807:Physical Endurance; D013177:Sports; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis*