title: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator in sport participation.
abstract: Although athletic participation lowers cardiovascular risk and improves quality of life, it may represent a hazard in high-risk group athletes such as those with cardiac abnormalities receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). ICD sports participants are exposed to the potential risk of inappropriate shocks due to sinus tachycardia and other supraventricular arrhythmias during exertion as well as device injury. The safety of athletic participation of ICD-patients is not completely defined and ICD efficacy in interrupting malignant arrhythmias during intense exercise is partly unknown. This explains difficulties in current recommendations made by physicians, given the associated potentially ischemic, autonomic and metabolic conditions. The scope of this review is to underline specific considerations including potential risks and recommendations for athletic participation in this patient-group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mascia
authors.affiliation: St. David's Medical Center, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, Austin, United States.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Biase
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galanti
authors.affiliation: St. David's Medical Center, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, Austin, United States.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natale
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padeletti
mesh_terms: D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004868:Equipment Failure; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012984:Software; D013177:Sports