[Correlation between changes in electrocardiographic and echocardiographic measurements and the nature of the sport practiced]

Abstract

Aims: Intense and regular sports practice leads to electrical and morphological cardiac remodeling. The aim of this study was to investigate a correlation between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes and the nature of the sport practiced.

Methods: Retrospective study of the electrocardiogram and echocardiography of competitive athletes recruited in the medical-sports center of Sousse RESULTS: A total of 554 athletes were included. The mean age was 16.1 ± 2.9 years and 69% were male. The average training time was 5.8 hours per week. In the population, 319 (57.6%) subjects practiced an endurance sport vs. 235 (42.4%) subjects who practiced a resistance sport. Sinus bradycardia was noted in 70 (21.9%) endurance athletes vs. 30 (12.8%) resistance athletes (p = 0.005). Long PR interval was recorded in 12 endurance athletes vs. 3 cases among resistance athletes (p = 0.046). A right bundle branch bloc was reported more frequently among endurance athletes: 55 (17.2%) vs. 22 (9.4%); (p = 0.004). The mean value of the Sokolow-Lyon index was 31.51 ± 10.34 mm in endurance athletes vs. 29.72 ± 9.41 mm in resistance athletes (p = 0.037). Systolic ejection fraction was significantly lower in endurance athletes compared to resistance athletes (66.08 ± 4.73% vs. 68.1 ± 4.90%; p = 0.005).

Conclusions: This study showed that electrical abnormalities in athletes, considered physiological, are more frequent among endurance athletes. Therefore, sport-specific criteria need to be developed for a more appropriate approach to screening for electrical abnormalities in athletes.

Keywords: Athlete; Athlète; Electrocardiogram; Sports Performance; performance sportive; électrocardiogramme.