Christine E. Lawless

Safety of Sports for Athletes With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators Results of a Prospective, Multinational Registry

Background— The risks of sports participation for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients are unknown. Methods and Results— Athletes with ICDs (age, 10–60 years) participating in organized (n=328) or high-risk (n=44) sports were recruited. Sports-related and clinical data were obtained by phone interview and medical records. Follow-up occurred every 6 months. ICD shock data and clinical outcomes were adjudicated by 2 electrophysiologists. Median age was 33 years (89 subjects <20 years of age); 33% were female. Sixty were competitive athletes (varsity/junior varsity/traveling team). A pre-ICD history of ventricular arrhythmia was present in 42%. Running, basketball, and soccer were the most common sports. Over a median 31-month (interquartile range, 21–46 months) follow-up, there were no occurrences of either primary end point—death or resuscitated arrest or arrhythmia- or shock-related injury—during sports. There were 49 shocks in 37 participants (10% of study population) during competition/practice, 39 shocks in 29 participants (8%) during other physical activity, and 33 shocks in 24 participants (6%) at rest. In 8 ventricular arrhythmia episodes (device defined), multiple shocks were received: 1 at rest, 4 during competition/practice, and 3 during other physical activity. Ultimately, the ICD terminated all episodes. Freedom from lead malfunction was 97% at 5 years (from implantation) and 90% at 10 years. Conclusions— Many athletes with ICDs can engage in vigorous and competitive sports without physical injury or failure to terminate the arrhythmia despite the occurrence of both inappropriate and appropriate shocks. These data provide a basis for more informed physician and patient decision making in terms of sports participation for athletes with ICDs.Background— The risks of sports participation for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients are unknown. Methods and Results— Athletes with ICDs (age, 10–60 years) participating in organized (n=328) or high-risk (n=44) sports were recruited. Sports-related and clinical data were obtained by phone interview and medical records. Follow-up occurred every 6 months. ICD shock data and clinical outcomes were adjudicated by 2 electrophysiologists. Median age was 33 years (89 subjects <20 years of age); 33% were female. Sixty were competitive athletes (varsity/junior varsity/traveling team). A pre-ICD history of ventricular arrhythmia was present in 42%. Running, basketball, and soccer were the most common sports. Over a median 31-month (interquartile range, 21–46 months) follow-up, there were no occurrences of either primary end point—death or resuscitated arrest or arrhythmia- or shock-related injury—during sports. There were 49 shocks in 37 participants (10% of study population) during competition/practice, 39 shocks in 29 participants (8%) during other physical activity, and 33 shocks in 24 participants (6%) at rest. In 8 ventricular arrhythmia episodes (device defined), multiple shocks were received: 1 at rest, 4 during competition/practice, and 3 during other physical activity. Ultimately, the ICD terminated all episodes. Freedom from lead malfunction was 97% at 5 years (from implantation) and 90% at 10 years. Conclusions— Many athletes with ICDs can engage in vigorous and competitive sports without physical injury or failure to terminate the arrhythmia despite the occurrence of both inappropriate and appropriate shocks. These data provide a basis for more informed physician and patient decision making in terms of sports participation for athletes with ICDs. # Clinical Perspective {#article-title-44}

Sports and exercise cardiology in the United States: cardiovascular specialists as members of the athlete healthcare team.

In recent years, athletic participation has more than doubled in all major demographic groups, while simultaneously, children and adults with established heart disease desire participation in sports and exercise. Despite conferring favorable long-term effects on well-being and survival, exercise can be associated with risk of adverse events in the short term. Complex individual cardiovascular (CV) demands and adaptations imposed by exercise present distinct challenges to the cardiologist asked to evaluate athletes. Here, we describe the evolution of sports and exercise cardiology as a unique discipline within the continuum of CV specialties, provide the rationale for tailoring of CV care to athletes and exercising individuals, define the role of the CV specialist within the athlete care team, and lay the foundation for the development of Sports and Exercise Cardiology in the United States. In 2011, the American College of Cardiology launched the Section of Sports and Exercise Cardiology. Membership has grown from 150 to over 4,000 members in just 2 short years, indicating marked interest from the CV community to advance the integration of sports and exercise cardiology into mainstream CV care. Although the current athlete CV care model has distinct limitations, here, we have outlined a new paradigm of care for the American athlete and exercising individual. By practicing and promoting this new paradigm, we believe we will enhance the CV care of athletes of all ages, and serve the greater athletic community and our nation as a whole, by allowing safest participation in sports and physical activity for all individuals who seek this lifestyle.

State-of-the-Art PaperSports and Exercise Cardiology in the United States: Cardiovascular Specialists as Members of the Athlete Healthcare Team

In recent years, athletic participation has more than doubled in all major demographic groups, while simultaneously, children and adults with established heart disease desire participation in sports and exercise. Despite conferring favorable long-term effects on well-being and survival, exercise can be associated with risk of adverse events in the short term. Complex individual cardiovascular (CV) demands and adaptations imposed by exercise present distinct challenges to the cardiologist asked to evaluate athletes. Here, we describe the evolution of sports and exercise cardiology as a unique discipline within the continuum of CV specialties, provide the rationale for tailoring of CV care to athletes and exercising individuals, define the role of the CV specialist within the athlete care team, and lay the foundation for the development of Sports and Exercise Cardiology in the United States. In 2011, the American College of Cardiology launched the Section of Sports and Exercise Cardiology. Membership has grown from 150 to over 4,000 members in just 2 short years, indicating marked interest from the CV community to advance the integration of sports and exercise cardiology into mainstream CV care. Although the current athlete CV care model has distinct limitations, here, we have outlined a new paradigm of care for the American athlete and exercising individual. By practicing and promoting this new paradigm, we believe we will enhance the CV care of athletes of all ages, and serve the greater athletic community and our nation as a whole, by allowing safest participation in sports and physical activity for all individuals who seek this lifestyle.

Protecting the heart of the American Athlete: Proceedings of the American college of cardiology sports and exercise cardiology think tank October 18, 2012, Washington, DC

Yvette L. Rooks, MD, CAQ, FAAFP[1][1] G. Paul Matherne, MD, FACC[2][2] Jim Whitehead[3][3] Dan Henkel[3][3] Irfan M. Asif, MD[4][4] James C. Dreese, MD[5][5] Rory B. Weiner, MD[6][6] Barbara A. Hutchinson, MD, PhD, FACC[7][7] Linda Tavares, MS, RN, AACC[8][8] Steven Krueger, MD, FACC[9][9

NOVEL MRI–BASED SCREENING PROTOCOL TO IDENTIFY ADOLESCENTS AT HIGH RISK OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH

United States guidelines for preparticipation screening of competitive athletes estimate a combined prevalence of 0.3% for high–risk cardiovascular conditions (hr–CVC) thought to be associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, there is minimal prospective data regarding the true

Cardiac anxiety after sudden cardiac arrest: Severity, predictors and clinical implications ☆

BACKGROUND Survival from cardiac arrest is a medical success but simultaneously produces psychological challenges related to perception of safety and threat. The current study evaluated symptoms of cardiac-specific anxiety in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivors and examined predictors of cardiac anxiety secondary to cardiac arrest. METHODS A retrospective, cross-sectional study of 188 SCA survivors from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association patient registry completed an online questionnaire that included a measure of cardiac anxiety (CAQ) and sociodemographic, cardiac history, and psychosocial adjustment data. CAQ scores were compared to published means from implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), inherited long QT syndrome (LQTS), and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) samples and a hierarchical regression was performed. RESULTS Clinically relevant cardiac anxiety and cardioprotective behaviors were frequently endorsed and 18% of survivors reported persistent worry about their heart even when presented with normal test results. Compared to all other samples, SCA survivors reported significantly higher levels of heart-focused attention (d=0.3-1.1) and greater cardiac fear and avoidance behaviors than LQTS patients. SCA patients endorsed less severe fear and avoidance symptoms than the HCM sample. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that younger age (p=0.02), heart murmur (p=0.02), history of ICD shock≥1 (p=0.01), and generalized anxiety (p=0.008) significantly predicted cardiac anxiety. The overall model explained 29.2% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS SCA survivors endorse high levels of cardiac-specific fear, avoidance and preoccupation with cardiac symptoms. Successful management of SCA patients requires attention to anxiety about cardiac functioning and security.

Safety of Sports for Athletes With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators

Background—The risks of sports participation for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients are unknown. Methods and Results—Athletes with ICDs (age, 10–60 years) participating in organized (n=328) or high-risk (n=44) sports were recruited. Sports-related and clinical data were obtained by phone interview and medical records. Follow-up occurred every 6 months. ICD shock data and clinical outcomes were adjudicated by 2 electrophysiologists. Median age was 33 years (89 subjects <20 years of age); 33% were female. Sixty were competitive athletes (varsity/junior varsity/traveling team). A pre-ICD history of ventricular arrhythmia was present in 42%. Running, basketball, and soccer were the most common sports. Over a median 31-month (interquartile range, 21–46 months) follow-up, there were no occurrences of either primary end point—death or resuscitated arrest or arrhythmia- or shock-related injury—during sports. There were 49 shocks in 37 participants (10% of study population) during competition/pr...

Hypertension Update and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Physically Active Individuals and Athletes

Abstract Hypertension is a prevalent disease worldwide. Its inadequate treatment leads to major cardiovascular complications, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure. These conditions decrease life expectancy and are a substantial cost burden to health care systems. Physically active individuals and professional athletes are not risk free for developing this condition. Although the percentage of persons affected is substantially lower than the general population, these individuals still need to be thoroughly evaluated and blood pressure targets monitored to allow safe competitive sports participation. Regarding treatment, lifestyle modification measures should be routinely emphasized to athletes and active individuals with the same importance as for the general population. Medication treatment can be complicated because of restrictions by athletic organizations and possible limitations on maximal exercise performance. In addition, the choice of an antihypertensive drug should be made with consideration for salt and water losses that routinely occur in athletes, as well as preservation of exercise performance and endothelial function. First-line therapies for athletes and physically active individuals may be different from the general population. Some authorities believe that blocking the renin-angiotensin system with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) is more beneficial compared with diuretics because of ACE inhibitors and ARBs being able to avoid salt and water losses. Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are another reasonable choice. Despite effects on heart rate, nondihydropyridine CCBs do not appear to impair exercise performance. β-Blockers are not used as a first-line therapy in athletes because of effects on exercise and prohibition by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and World Anti-Doping Agency in certain sports. In this article, we address the evidence on hypertension and its related treatments in active individuals to provide recommendations that allow the best competitive sports results and reduce cardiovascular risk.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators in athletes: rationale for use and issues surrounding return to play.

Although the 36th Bethesda Guidelines for sports participation recommend that athletes with implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) be disqualified from participating in sports, survey information suggests that the majority of athletic individuals with ICDs are actively participating. Outcome data demonstrating the value of ICDs in prolonging life in high-risk populations has been established, but such data may not necessarily apply to the athletic population because of the reliability of the ICD under the extreme conditions of sports participation. Here we discuss the definition of sudden death, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and ventricular fibrillation (VF); the epidemiology of sudden death in the general population and in athletes; methods of defibrillation and how they differ from one another; the ICD system, implant technique, and indications for implantation; issues surrounding safety and efficacy of ICDs in athletes; return-to-play considerations; preliminary safety and efficacy data obtained from survey data of those who care for athletes with ICDs; and the rationale for the recently launched ICD Sports Registry.

Letter by Angelini et al Regarding Article, “Incidence of Sudden Cardiac Death in the National Collegiate Athletic Association”

To the Editor: We read with great interest the report by Harmon et al1 on sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a potentially important statement on the incidence of SCD in the young. We would like to offer some comments. The complex question of how best to estimate the risk of SCD does not seem to have been precisely addressed in this article. The authors used the number of students registered annually with the NCAA over a 5-year period (yielding about 2 million candidates) as the denominator of the risk fraction; the numerator is the number of SCD events that …