title: Are Olympic athletes free from cardiovascular diseases? Systematic investigation in 2352 participants from Athens 2004 to Sochi 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Olympic athletes represent model of success in our society, by enduring strenuous conditioning programmes and achieving astonishing performances. They also raise scientific and clinical interest, with regard to medical care and prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) abnormalities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to assess the prevalence and type of CV abnormalities in this selected athlete's cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  2352 Olympic athletes, mean age 25±6, 64% men, competing in 31 summer or 15 winter sports, were examined with history, physical examination, 12-lead and exercise ECG and echocardiography. Additional testing (cardiac MRI, CT scan) or electrophysiological assessments were selectively performed when indicated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence and type of CV findings, abnormalities and diseases found in Olympic athletes over 10 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A subset of 92 athletes (3.9%) showed abnormal CV findings. Structural abnormalities included inherited cardiomyopathies (n=4), coronary artery disease (n=1), perimyocarditis (n=4), myocardial bridges (n=2), valvular and congenital diseases (n=45) and systemic hypertension (n=10). Primary electrical diseases included atrial fibrillation (n=2), supraventricular reciprocating tachycardia (n=14), complex ventricular tachyarrhythmias (non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, n=7; bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, n=1) or major conduction disorders (Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW), n=1; Long QT syndrome (LQTS), n=2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed an unexpected prevalence of CV abnormalities among Olympic athletes, including a small, but not negligible proportion of pathological conditions at risk. This observation suggests that Olympic athletes, despite the absence of symptoms or astonishing performances, are not immune from CV disorders and might be exposed to unforeseen high-risk during sport activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
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: Paolo Emilio
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quattrini
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: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9897-5839
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caselli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verdile
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maestrini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Paolo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cataldo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisicchio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciardo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spataro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013177:Sports; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Athlete's heart; Evaluation; Heart disease; Olympics; Prevention