Key result
Cardiac arrhythmias in athletes range from common, benign bradycardias to rare, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and commotio cordis, which often require treatment or prohibit competitive play.
Provides a clinical overview of the spectrum of cardiac arrhythmias in athletes, emphasizing the distinction between benign common arrhythmias and life-threatening ventricular events.
Highlights need for nuanced arrhythmia assessment in athletes to balance safety and participation; leaves open optimal risk stratification pending prospective data.
Athletes, although the healthiest segment of society, can develop cardiac arrhythmias. Benign bradycardias and atrial and ventricular premature contractions are common and seldom require treatment. Supraventricular tachycardias are less common and are usually not life-threatening, but do require treatment. Ventricular arrhythmias, although uncommon, are life-threatening and require treatment. Most athletes with ventricular arrhythmias have structural cardiac abnormalities, and further competitive play is usually prohibited. Commotio cordis, which is a recently described syndrome of sudden death caused by low-energy chest wall impact, may account for a significant percentage of the sudden deaths in athletes.
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Link et al. (1999) conducted a review in Cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmias in athletes range from common, benign bradycardias to rare, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and commotio cordis, which often require treatment or prohibit competitive play.
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