Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Findings in Elite Ghanaian Male Soccer Players.

Abstract

To analyze the athlete's heart of adult and adolescent elite male soccer players by electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO) and to describe typical ECG and ECHO findings in this cohort (West African elite soccer players). A cross-sectional study of ECGs and ECHOs conducted as part of precompetition medical assessment for national male soccer teams preparing for various Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) tournaments in 2016 and 2017. Ghana National Football Association. One hundred fifty-nine players playing for the National male soccer teams preparing for tournaments in 2016 and 2017. Precompetition medical assessment using ECGs and ECHOs. Number of athletes with abnormal ECGs and ECHO findings. Twenty-three percent of the players had abnormal ECGs. Nine percent of the participants had T-wave inversions in lateral leads (V5-V6). Sokolow-Lyon criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy were present in 64% of participants. Thirty-six (23%) players had left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) ≥13 mm, with no player exceeding 16 mm. Four percent of players had left ventricular cavity dimension greater than 60 mm. Relative wall thickness >0.42 was present in 44% of the players. Uncommon ECG changes seem to be more common in elite Ghanaian soccer players compared with previously reported results for Caucasians and even mixed populations of black athletes. Although ST elevation, T-wave inversions, and LVWT up to 15 mm are common, ST depression, deep T-waves in lateral leads, and LVWT ≥16 mm always warrant further clinical and scientific investigations.