Syncope as a Warning Symptom of Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes

Giulia Vettor; Alessandro Zorzi; Cristina Basso; Gaetano Thiene; Domenico Corrado

doi:10.1016/j.ccl.2015.04.010

Syncope as a Warning Symptom of Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes

Cardiol Clin. 2015 Aug;33(3):423-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ccl.2015.04.010.

Authors

Giulia Vettor¹, Alessandro Zorzi¹, Cristina Basso², Gaetano Thiene², Domenico Corrado³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova Medical School, Via Giustiniani, 2, Padova 35121, Italy.
² Cardiovascular Pathology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 61, Padova 35121, Italy.
³ Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova Medical School, Via Giustiniani, 2, Padova 35121, Italy; Arrhythmogenic Inherited Cardiomyopathy Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova Medical School, Via Giustiniani, 2, Padova 35121, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.corrado@unipd.it.

PMID: 26115828
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2015.04.010

Abstract

Clinical evaluation of syncope in the athlete remains a challenge. Although benign mechanisms predominate, syncope may be arrhythmic and precede SCD. Exercise-induced syncope should be regarded as an important alarming symptom of an underlying cardiac disease predisposing to arrhythmic cardiac arrest. All athletes with syncope require a focused and detailed workup for underlying cardiac causes, either structural or electrical. Major aim is to identify athletes at risk and to protect them from SCD. Athletes with potentially life-threatening etiologies of syncope should be restricted from competitive sports.

Keywords: Athletes; Cardiomyopathy; Sudden cardiac death; Syncope.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Athletes*
Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology*
Electrocardiography*
Heart Rate / physiology*
Humans
Syncope* / complications
Syncope* / diagnosis
Syncope* / physiopathology