Changes of sports habits and psychological impact of pharmacologically induced Brugada type 1 pattern in young patients

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a hereditary condition that increases the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The latest European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines suggest that sodium channel blocker testing is less specific than previously thought, particularly in asymptomatic individuals.1 In cases of diagnostic uncertainty, continued clinical follow-up is the standard approach. However, a gap exists between medical advice promoting a normal lifestyle and patient concerns. This study evaluated exercise habits before and after a positive ajmaline test (AT), emphasizing its psychological impact on young, low-risk patients. We included all patients who exhibited a Brugada type 1 electrocardiographic pattern after ajmaline administration at our department from 2015 to 2022. Patients assessed their heart-focused anxiety using the German version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ)2 at last medical visit after ajmaline challenge. Physical activity (PA) levels were classified based on metabolic equivalents of task (METs) as mild (<3 METs), moderate (3–6 METs), and intense (>6 METs). Statistical comparisons were conducted using Student’s t-test, with significance set at P < 0.05. A one-way ANOVA assessed anxiety differences across PA groups post-AT; Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference test followed significant results (P < 0.05).