Preparticipation 12-lead ECG screening of 1,054 male pediatric and adolescent football players revealed an ECG finding in 11%, most frequently incomplete RBBB (7.3%).
Cross-Sectional (n=1,054)
Does systematic exercise influence electrocardiographic parameters in pediatric and adolescent male football players?
Systematic exercise significantly influences ECG parameters in pediatric and adolescent football players, highlighting the need for age-specific ECG interpretation guidelines.
Electrocardiographic characteristics of children and adolescents present differences compared to adults. The aim of our work was to study electrocardiograms (ECGs) of football male players from childhood to late adolescence and examine if the ECG parameters are influenced by systematic exercise. One thousand fifty-four football players participated and formed four groups. Group A included 89 players aged 5-7 years, group B 353 players aged 8-11 years, group C consisted of 355 football players 12-15 yearsold and group D of 257 players with 16-18 years of age. All participants underwent preparticipation screening, including 12-lead surface ECG. Heart rate (HR), PR, RR, QRS, QT, QTc intervals, QT dispersion (QTdisp) and QRS axis were calculated. All ECGs were evaluated according to the current preparticipation cardiac screening guidelines, that refer to athletes aged 12-35 years and do not include pediatric players. Eleven percent of the participants presented an ECG finding. Group D obtained the lowest values of HR, QTc and the highest of PR, RR, QRS, QT intervals and QTdisp, whereas no differences in QRS axis were reported. Incomplete Right Bandle Branch Block (RBBB) was the most frequent ECG peculiarity, detected in 7.3% of the participants. Years of training were statistically significantly correlated to HR, PR, RR, QRS and QT intervals. In conclusion, guidelines for ECG interpretation of athletes in childhood, early and late adolescence are needed.
Doumparatzi et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Preparticipation screening (n=1,054). Preparticipation 12-lead ECG screening was evaluated on ECG parameters and findings. Preparticipation 12-lead ECG screening of 1,054 male pediatric and adolescent football players revealed an ECG finding in 11%, most frequently incomplete RBBB (7.3%).