Key result
Professional football is linked to normal athlete ECGs in 93% of players, predominantly sinus bradycardia.
Why the study?
Cardiovascular screening during pre-competition medical assessment reduces sudden cardiac death, but data on electrocardiogram characteristics among Malaysian footballers are limited.
What are the electrocardiogram characteristics of Malaysian professional football players?
Cross-Sectional (n=86)
No
What are the electrocardiogram characteristics of Malaysian professional football players?
Malaysian professional footballers exhibit specific ECG adaptations including high rates of sinus bradycardia and left ventricular hypertrophy, with overweight/obese players showing higher QTc intervals.
Supports benign ECG adaptations in Malaysian footballers; extends sparse Asian athlete data but should not yet change practice.
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular screening during pre-competition medical assessment (PCMA) is an integral part in football to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death. However, limited data are available on characteristics of electrocardiogram (ECGs) among Malaysian footballers. Our study describes the ECGs features among Selangor professional football players.METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted using secondary data from footballers PCMA records performed at the University Malaya Medical Centre in 2022. Players ECG were evaluated using the International Criteria 2017.RESULTS: Data from 86 Malaysian footballers were evaluated. ECGs of 80 (93%) footballers were categorized as normal ECGs for athletes, two (2.2%) had abnormal ECG and the remaining four 4.8% had borderline ECG. The most common ECG features in this study were sinus bradycardia 96.5% (N.=83) followed by left ventricular hypertrophy 78% (N.=67) and benign early repolarization 13% (N.=11). One footballer had T inversion ECG changes over lateral lead and another had features suggestive of Wolf Parkinson White syndrome. Both footballers were referred for further evaluation and declared fit to play by cardiologist. Older footballers showed a significant lower resting heart rate compared to young adults. Overweight and obese footballers have a significant higher QTc interval.CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates a football specific ECG adaptation (High sinus bradycardia and left ventricular hypertrophy with low early repolarization). It is important to maintain a normal BMI to reduce risk of having prolong QTc which is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
SUGUMAR et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular screening in professional football players (n=86). Professional football playing was evaluated on ECG characteristics based on International Criteria 2017. Professional football playing in Malaysia was associated with normal athlete ECGs in 93% of players, most commonly featuring sinus bradycardia (96.5%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (78%).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: