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The role of Italian pre-participation screening in early detection of cardiomyopathies: what is the meaning of T wave inversion in young athletes?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2024

Eliana Tranchita Open the ORCID record for Eliana Tranchita [Opens in a new window] ,
Giulia Cafiero ,
Ugo Giordano ,
Federica Gentili ,
Attilio Turchetta ,
Nicoletta Cantarutti ,
Marianna Cicenia ,
Irma Battipaglia ,
Corrado Di Mambro Open the ORCID record for Corrado Di Mambro [Opens in a new window]  and
Anwar Baban
...Show all authors
Eliana Tranchita*
Affiliation:
Sports Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Giulia Cafiero
Affiliation:
Sports Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Ugo Giordano
Affiliation:
Sports Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Federica Gentili
Affiliation:
Sports Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Attilio Turchetta
Affiliation:
Sports Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Nicoletta Cantarutti
Affiliation:
Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Marianna Cicenia
Affiliation:
Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Irma Battipaglia
Affiliation:
Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Corrado Di Mambro
Affiliation:
Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Anwar Baban
Affiliation:
Rare Diseases and Medical Genetics Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Aurelio Secinaro
Affiliation:
Advanced Cardiothoracic Imaging Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Drago
Affiliation:
Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
*
Corresponding author: E. Tranchita; Email: eliana.tranchita@opbg.net
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Abstract

Introduction:

The presence of T wave inversion on screening electrocardiogram may represent an early sign of cardiomyopathies in athletes. This finding even in very young athletes can generate some suspicion and may determine a contraindication to practice competitive sport. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of T wave inversion in a population of young competitive athletes and determine whether they can be associated with the occurrence of cardiomyopathies in the absence of other pathological features.

Methods:

A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out and 581 subjects were screened for competitive sport eligibility. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 53 athletes showed T wave inversion and they were selected to undergo further investigations.

Results:

In 32,1% of cases, we have identified the cause of T wave inversions and we suspended them from competition. In particular, in 15% of athletes who showed T wave inversions, we found cardiomyopathies.

Discussion:

Prevalence of T wave inversion in this population of athletes was 9,1%. At the end of second and third-level evaluations, eight athletes with T wave inversion showed an early form of cardiomyopathy and were suspended from competitive sport. Most of them showed T wave inversion in infero-lateral leads on electrocardiogram.

Conclusion:

The probability that competitive athletes have a concealed cardiomyopathy is low, but not negligible. Pre-participation screening for competitive sport activity represents an excellent opportunity to early identify cardiomyopathies and other pathologies that increase the risk of sudden death in apparently healthy young athletes.

Keywords

young athletesT wave inversioncardiomyopathycompetitive sporthealthpre-participation screening
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , First View , pp. 1 - 6
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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