Why the study?
Conflicting information exists from studies evaluating post-COVID myocarditis and consensus return-to-play guidelines for competitive athletes, who are at risk for sudden cardiac death from myocarditis.
This review provides guidance for practitioners managing and advising competitive athletes regarding COVID-19 myocarditis and return-to-play protocols.
May warrant cautious return-to-play evaluation in athletes post-COVID; hypothesis-generating for myocarditis screening protocols.
Since the first reported case of COVID-19 in December 2019, the global landscape has shifted toward an unrecognizable paradigm. The sports world has not been immune to these ramifications; all major sports leagues have had abbreviated seasons, fan attendance has been eradicated, and athletes have opted out of entire seasons. For these athletes, cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 are particularly concerning, as myocarditis has been implicated in a significant portion of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes (up to 22%). Multiple studies have attempted to evaluate post-COVID myocarditis and develop consensus return-to-play (RTP) guidelines, which has led to conflicting information for internists and primary care doctors advising these athletes. We aim to review the pathophysiology and diagnosis of viral myocarditis, discuss the heterogeneity regarding incidence of COVID myocarditis among athletes, and summarize the current expert recommendations for RTP. The goal is to provide guidance for practitioners who will be managing and advising athletes in the COVID era.
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Khan et al. (2021) studied this question.
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