Key result
Athletic status linked to ~75% higher prevalence of anterior T-wave inversion vs nonathletes.
Why the study?
Anterior T-wave inversion on ECG in young white adults raises concern for cardiomyopathy, but its prevalence and significance in athletes versus nonathletes is unclear.
Cross-Sectional (n=14,646)
Absolute Event Rate: 3.5% vs 2%
p-value: p=<0.0001
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“They found that T-wave inversions in leads V1 and V2 are a normal variant, present in 1.4% of men and 4.3% of women studied. T-wave inversions beyond V2 (i.e., in V1 to V3 or in >3 chest leads) was rare (0.2%) in men and uncommon (1.2%) in women (2.1% in female athletes). None of the probands studied fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of ARVC. Furthermore, none of the probands with T-wave inversion in the anterior chest leads experienced an adverse event during a follow-up time of almost 2 years. This information will help to reassure young adults with such T-wave changes.”
Anterior T-wave inversion is present in 2.3% of young white adults and is significantly more common in women and athletes.
BACKGROUND: Anterior T-wave inversion (ATWI) on electrocardiography (ECG) in young white adults raises the possibility of cardiomyopathy, specifically arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Whereas the 2010 European consensus recommendations for ECG interpretation in young athletes state that ATWI beyond lead V OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence and significance of ATWI in a large cohort of young, white adults including athletes. METHODS: Individuals 16 to 35 years of age (n = 14,646), including 4,720 females (32%) and 2,958 athletes (20%), were evaluated by using a health questionnaire, physical examination, and 12-lead ECG. ATWI was defined as T-wave inversion in ≥2 contiguous anterior leads (V RESULTS: ATWI was detected in 338 individuals (2.3%) and was more common in women than in men (4.3% vs. 1.4%, respectively; p < 0.0001) and more common among athletes than in nonathletes (3.5% vs. 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.0001). T-wave inversion was predominantly confined to leads V CONCLUSIONS: ATWI confined to leads V
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Malhotra et al. (2017) conducted a cross-sectional in Anterior T-wave inversion (n=14,646). Athletic training (athlete status) vs. Nonathletes was evaluated on Prevalence of anterior T-wave inversion (ATWI) (p=<0.0001). Anterior T-wave inversion was present in 2.3% of young white adults and was significantly more prevalent among athletes compared to nonathletes (3.5% vs. 2.0%; p<0.0001).
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