The novelties of the 2020 ESC Guidelines on Sport Cardiology and Exercise in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Sports cardiology is a relatively novel and emerging subspecialty, and therefore the evidence base for the impact of exercise on CV disease progression, or risk of death during intensive exercise is relatively sparse. This is reflected by the fact that a large number of recommendations are reliant on the wisdom and experience of the consensus group, rather than from large prospective studies. In this respect, the guidelines advocate involvement of the exercising individual in a comprehensive discussion relating to the potential risk of an adverse event with specific types of exercise and respecting patient autonomy. The content of the discussion and the outcome should be documented clearly in the medical report. Next, we provide a brief insight and highlights of this ESC Guideline and hope that the current guidelines will serve as a useful clinical document but also an incentive for future research to challenge established wisdom.