Editorial comments: Focus on cardiovascular risk screening.

Abstract

This special issue is dedicated to several topics related to the screening, proper, and early detection of cardiovascular risk factors in clinical practice: hypertension, lipid, unhealthy lifestyle, and genetic susceptibility. Furthermore, the topic of screening prior to return to play (RTP) after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the child and adolescent athlete is discussed by consensus document of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology. Several evidence suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection may also be linked to cardiac issues in young athletes, with a risk of myo-pericardial involvement leading to sport-related arrhythmias.1 As a result, there are concerns about young athletes who want to RTP after SARS-CoV-2 infection, because exercise may result in accelerated virus replication, increased inflammation, and cellular necrosis with a proarrhythmic myocardial substrate during the acute phase of infection, especially if there are hidden cardiac complications. National and international scientific organizations have advocated cardiac assessment before RTP in competitive athletes, but protocols vary around the globe. The lack of comprehensive data, particularly in preadolescent and adolescent athletes, raises questions about the best technique for proper cardiac risk classification in this cohort of athletes.