title: Benign clinical significance of J-wave pattern (early repolarization) in highly trained athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  J wave/QRS slurring (early repolarization) on 12-lead ECG has been associated with increased risk for ventricular fibrillation in the absence of cardiovascular (CV) disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical significance of J wave/QRS slurring in a large population of competitive athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred four athletes (436 males [62%], age 25 ± 5 years) free of CV disease who had engaged in 30 different sports were examined. Serial clinical, ECG, and echocardiographic evaluations were available over 1 to 18 years of follow-up (mean 6 ± 4 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  J wave was found in 102 athletes (14%) and was associated with QRS slurring in 32 (4%). It was found most commonly in anterior, lateral, and inferior leads (n = 73 [72%]), occasionally in lateral leads (n = 26 [25%]), and rarely in inferior leads (n = 3 [3%]). Most of 102 athletes (n = 86 [84%]) also showed ST-segment elevation. J wave/QRS slurring was associated with other training-related ECG changes (ie, increased R/S-wave voltages in 76%) and left ventricular (LV) morphologic remodeling (LV mass 199 ± 48 g vs 188 ± 56 g, P <.05). During follow-up, no athlete with J wave experienced cardiac event or ventricular tachyarrhythmias, or developed structural CV disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In athletes, early repolarization pattern usually is associated with other ECG changes, such as increased QRS voltages and ST-segment elevation, as well as LV remodeling, suggesting that it likely represents another benign expression of the physiologic athlete's heart. J wave (early repolarization) is common in highly trained athletes and does not convey risk for adverse cardiac events, including sudden death or tachyarrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Quattrini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: ant.pelliccia@libero.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelliccia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Assorgi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: DiPaolo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Squeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Culasso
authors.affiliation: Giorgio Castelli Onluss Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.affiliation: Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Link
authors.affiliation: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis. Minnesota.
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Maron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Arrhythmia; Athletes; Early repolarization; Electrocardiography; J wave; Sudden death