The early repolarization pattern: Echocardiographic characteristics in elite athletes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The electrocardiographic early repolarization (ER) pattern is associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and increased long-term cardiovascular mortality. Whether structural cardiac aberrations influence the phenotype is unclear. Since ER is particularly common in athletes, we evaluated its prevalence and investigated predisposing echocardiographic characteristics and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in a cohort of elite athletes.

Methods

A total of 623 elite athletes (age 21 ± 5 years) were examined during annual preparticipation screening from 2006 until 2012 including electrocardiography, echocardiography, and exercise testing. ECGs were analyzed with focus on ER. All athletes participated in a clinical follow-up.

Results

The prevalence of ER w

SUBMITTER: Reinhard W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6931648 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature