title: Influence of training on the number and complexity of frequent VPBs in healthy athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Frequent ventricular premature beats (VPBs) may be discovered during preparticipation screening in asymptomatic apparently healthy athletes. Some authors hypothesize that they may be a manifestation of 'athlete's heart' and suggest a deconditioning period, which should document a regression of arrhythmias, to exclude a concealed disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test this hypothesis, we analysed 87 asymptomatic healthy athletes with frequent VPB (>100/24 h). Of these, 44 (group D) underwent at least 3 months' detraining, whereas 43 (group C) continued sporting activity. Athletes underwent 24-h Holter monitoring at the baseline after 5.2 ± 4 (group D) and 7.2 ± 5 (group C) months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basal characteristics were similar in both groups. Comparison of the basal and follow-up Holter results revealed no significant difference in the mean number of VPB/24 h in either group. In group D, the number of VPB/24 h declined from 8126 ± 8129 to 7998 ± 10 976 (P = 0.48), whereas in group C it rose from 6027 ± 6374 to 6600 ± 8590 (P = 0.51). VPB either disappeared or were markedly reduced (<100 VPB/24 h) in 2/44 (4.5%) group D and 4/43 (9%) group C athletes.In neither group did the number of couplets or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy athletes, frequent VPBs discovered by chance during preparticipation screening may not be a manifestation of 'athlete's heart', but may depend on other causes; in the latter case screening may simply reveal a pre-existing asymptomatic phenomenon; the usefulness of detraining in ascertaining eligibility for sport should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Hospital of Conegliano, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delise
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lanari
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sitta
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Centa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allocca
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biffi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D056352:Athletes; D002648:Child; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult