Influence of type of sport on cardiac repolarization assessed by electrocardiographic T-wave morphology combination score

Abstract

IntroductionInterpreting repolarization changes in the electrocardiograms of athletes present a clinical challenge. AimAssessment of cardiac repolarization by T-wave morphology using the Morphology Combination Score (MCS), and evaluate how this quantitative description of T-wave morphology was influenced by the sport performed. Materials and methodsDigital electrocardiograms of 469 young elite athletes were analyzed for T-wave asymmetry, flatness and notching, and combined in the MCS. Athletes >22years were compared to a sex-and age matched control group from the general population (N=198). ResultsMCS increased with increasing endurance component of the sport performed ranging from 0.79±0.15 (low) to 0.92±0.21 (high) (p<0.0001). All subcomponents of MCS were increased compared to controls. MCS was unrelated to age, sex and ECG findings of the athlete's heart. ConclusionThis study suggests that sport induces repolarization changes detected by T-wave morphology, and a greater level of changes is seen in athletes from high endurance sports.