Abstract
Background and objectivesAthlete’s heart is characterized by structural cardiac changes, including enlargement and hypertrophy. However, exercise-induced cardiac electrical remodeling is not well known in Asian athletes. We sought to evaluate the association between vigorous exercise and the development of abnormal late potential on signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG).MethodWe analyzed 48 Korean professional soccer players and 71 healthy sedentary controls who underwent SAECG and transthoracic echocardiography at Kyung Hee University Hospital. An SAECG was considered abnormal (positive for ventricular late potential) when any one of the three following criteria was met: filtered QRS duration > 114 ms, root-mean-square voltage in the terminal 40 ms < 20 uV, or a voltage < 40 uV for more than 38 ms.ResultsFragmented QRS was more commonly found in athletes (1.4% vs. 10.4%). Athletes demonstrated significantly higher proportion of filtered QRS duration > 114 ms (7.0% vs. 22.9%, P = 0.013) and lower terminal QRS root-mean-square voltage < 20 uV (5.6% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.012). Ventricular late potential on SAECG was significantly more frequent in athletes (15.5% vs. 35.4%, P = 0.012). Regarding echocardiographic parameters, the athletes had larger cardiac chamber size; however, these differences became non-significant after adjustment for body surface area, except left ventricular mass index (65.7 ± 12.7 g/m2 vs. 84.7 ± 17.7 g/m2, P < 0.001).ConclusionAbnormal SAECG findings were significantly more common in athletes than in controls. Further study is needed to determine the clinical impact of these abnormal SAECGs in athletes and cardiac outcomes in the long term.
Highlights
Exercise is an important way to improve health and has been associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease and death [1, 2]
Fragmented QRS was more commonly found in athletes (1.4% vs. 10.4%)
Further study is needed to determine the clinical impact of these abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) in athletes and cardiac outcomes in the long term
Summary
Exercise is an important way to improve health and has been associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease and death [1, 2]. Endurance exercise causes structural changes in the heart, which are normal physiological changes that improve cardiac performance. A delay in myocardial depolarization usually forms lowamplitude, high-frequency waveforms at the end of the QRS complex in SAECG. This delayed small fragmented potential is known as ventricular late potential (VLP) and is considered an electrophysiological substrate for ventricular arrhythmias [7]. The aim of this study was to elucidate the electrocardiographic and clinical characteristics of professional high-dynamic low-static soccer athletes compared to sedentary healthy controls. Exercise-induced cardiac electrical remodeling is not well known in Asian athletes. We sought to evaluate the association between vigorous exercise and the development of abnormal late potential on signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
