title: Prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in young, elite Japanese athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The question as to whether or not electrocardiogram (ECG) evaluations should be performed in all athletes is still controversial. So, in this study, the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities was evaluated in young, elite Japanese athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects included 174 male and 101 female Japanese athletes (mean age, 21.5 years). Sports activities included baseball, basketball, diving, fencing, gymnastics, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo. A 12-lead resting ECG was recorded and evaluated. We used the criteria for distinctly abnormal ECG patterns as defined by Pelliccia et al. Subjects were divided into 2 groups on the basis of their exercise training type: an endurance training group and a static training group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty six of 174 male subjects (14.9%) and 11 of 101 (10.9%) female subjects presented with abnormal ECG results. ECG abnormalities were observed much more frequently in track athletes compared to athletes of other sporting events. Field players did not present with any ECG abnormalities. Overall, the incidences of ECG abnormalities were statistically lower in the static exercise training group than in the endurance training group both in male and female. High voltage of left ventricle was observed in 114 of 175 male subjects (65.1%), and 27 of 101 female subjects (26.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of ECG abnormalities in young, elite, Japanese athletes was comparable to that previously reported by both Western and Asian investigators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan - omiya@marianna-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Omiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitarai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Musha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012146:Rest; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult