title: Correlation between ECG changes and early left ventricular remodeling in preadolescent footballers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the early electrocardiogram (ECG) changes induced by physical training in preadolescent elite footballers. This study included 94 preadolescent highly trained male footballers (FG) competing in Serbian Football League (minimum of 7 training hours/week) and 47 age-matched healthy male controls (less than 2 training hours/week) (CG). They were screened by ECG and echocardiography at a tertiary referral cardio center. Sokolow-Lyon index was used as a voltage electrocardiographic criterion for left ventricular hypertrophy diagnosis. Characteristic ECG intervals and voltage were compared and reference range was given for preadolescent footballers. Highly significant differences between FG and CG were registered in all ECG parameters: P-wave voltage (p < 0.001), S-wave (V1 or V2 lead) voltage (p < 0.001), R-wave (V5 and V6 lead) voltage (p < 0.001), ECG sum of S V1-2+ R V5-6(p < 0.001), T-wave voltage (p < 0.001), QRS complex duration (p < 0.001), T-wave duration (p < 0.001), QTc interval duration (p < 0.001), and R/T ratio (p < 0.001). No differences were found in PQ interval duration between these two groups (p > 0.05). During 6-year follow-up period, there was no adverse cardiac event in these footballers. None of them expressed pathological ECG changes. Benign ECG changes are presented in the early stage of athlete's heart remodeling, but they are not related to pathological ECG changes and they should be regarded as ECG pattern of LV remodeling.
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Medical Center Bezanijska Kosa, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zdravkovic
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Medical Center Bezanijska Kosa, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milovanovic
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Medical Center Bezanijska Kosa, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hinic
authors.affiliation: 2 Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Medical Statistics, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soldatovic
authors.affiliation: 3 Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durmic
authors.affiliation: 4 Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Cardiology, University of Nis , Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koracevic
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Child and Mother Care "Vukan Cupic", University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prijic
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Medical Center Bezanijska Kosa, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Medical Center Bezanijska Kosa, University of Belgrade , Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Filipovic
authors.affiliation: 6 Clinic for Internal Diseases "InterMedica" , Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lovic
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D059267:Cardiomegaly, Exercise-Induced; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D055771:Serbia; D012916:Soccer; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
keywords: athletes; cardiology; electrocardiography; footballers; heart