Benign And Pathological Electrocardiographic Changes In Basketball Athletes Of BrasíLia - Brazil

Abstract

PURPOSE: Basketball has evolved a lot and the level of competition has increased considerably. Athlete's Heart Syndrome comprises a set of clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic (ECHO) changes, such as sinus bradycardia, myocardial hypertrophy or enlargement of the cardiac cavities. Thus, it is important to distinguish potentially fatal pathological changes from normal physiological adaptations. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, ECG and ECHO characteristics of Brazilian basketball players and evaluate the presence of benign and pathological changes. METHODS: Fifteen male basketball athletes (23 ± 3.74 years) competing in the National Brazilian Basketball Gold League were evaluated during the last week of preparatory training for the competition. The athletes performed clinical evaluation (cardiovascular risk factors, medication use, sleep quality, and application of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire - PAR-Q), anthropometric (body mass index - BMI, kg.m-2 muscle mass - MM, Kg; fat percentage - FP,%), resting ECG, and transthoracic doppler ECHO (left ventricular ejection fraction - LVEF,%; left ventricular diastolic diameter - LVDD, cm; left ventricular mass index - LVMI, g.m-2). ECG changes were classified as benign or malignant according to the Seattle Criteria. RESULTS: The athletes did not report cardiovascular risk factors, medication use and presented negative PAR-Q. Most athletes (90%) complained of poor sleep quality. The anthropometric variables were BMI 24.13 ± 2.05 Kg.m-2, MM 47.6 ± 5.01 Kg; FP 8.89 ± 4.79%. All individuals presented sinus rhythm (100%). The main benign ECG alteration was early repolarization alteration (10 - 66.7%). The malignant ECG change was LV hypertrophy with negative T-wave (3 - 100%). On ECHO we found LVEF 65.76 ± 2.35%, LVDD 53.15 ± 3.57 cm and LVMI 81.46 ± 11.72 g.m-2, within the normal range for age and body surface. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ECG criteria for LV overload was not associated with the presence of hypertrophy or ventricular remodeling on echocardiography. Evidence supports the use of ECG in screening, coupled with a cost-effective interpretation algorithm to assist abnormal or borderline changes to identify possible cardiovascular causes and prevent sudden death in athletes.