Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Findings in Ghanaian Female Soccer Players.

Abstract

To examine the heart of Ghanaian adult and adolescent female soccer players using electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO), and to describe typical ECG and ECHO findings in a cohort of west African female soccer players. Cross-sectional study of ECG and ECHO performed as part of precompetition medical assessment for 3 national female football teams preparing for various Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) tournaments in 2016. Ghana National Football Association. Seventy-five female players playing for the National female football teams preparing for FIFA tournaments in 2016. Precompetition medical assessment using ECGs and ECHOs. Number of athletes with abnormal ECG and ECHO findings using the International ECG Interpretation criteria. Eight percent of the participants had T-wave inversions in lateral leads (V5-V6). Voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were present in 35% of participants. A total of 2.7% of the players had LV wall thickness (LVWT) ≥12 mm with no player exceeding 13 mm. No player had LV cavity dimension greater than 60 mm. Ghanaian female soccer players seem to have a high prevalence of LVH and repolarization change. Although LVWT up to 12 mm might be normal in this cohort, deep T-wave inversions and LVWT ≥13 mm should always be further investigated and/or undergo a long-term follow.