Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Association Between Neighborhood Opportunity With Exercise-Related Cardiac Symptoms and ECG Abnormalities in US Youth Athletes
- retrospectively analyzed the HeartBytes National Youth Cardiac Registry
- community-based preparticipation screening events
- multivariable logistic regression
Authors' conclusion
Youth athletes from lower-opportunity neighborhoods were underrepresented in preparticipation screening and demonstrated higher prevalence and adjusted odds of exercise-related cardiac symptoms and ECG abnormalities. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to determine clinical significance and inform equitable screening strategies.
Study context
- Population
- Youth athletes aged <17 years attending community-based preparticipation screening events (physical exam and 12-lead ECG) across the United States between April 2015 and May 2024youth athletes (median age, 14 years, 38.9% female, 83.0% White)
- Participants
- 7,843 athletes
- Exposure
- associations between child opportunity index quintile and exercise-related cardiac symptoms and ECG abnormalities
Main finding
Exercise-related chest pain
Adjusted odds ratio
0.45
95% CI 0.32–0.63
By group
very high vs very low
adjusted odds ratio 0.45 (95% CI 0.32–0.63)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values | adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise-related fatigue · lower odds with very high quintile · multivariable adjustment | very low prevalence 11.4% · very high prevalence 7.0% | 0.65 (0.47–0.87) | |
| Abnormal ECGs · lower odds with very high quintile · multivariable adjustment | very low prevalence 10.0% · very high prevalence 5.1% | 0.58 (0.42–0.82) | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
- Exercise-related fatigue: unadjusted prevalence comparison: all P <0.001
- Abnormal ECGs: unadjusted prevalence comparison: all P <0.001
Original publication
Association Between Neighborhood Opportunity With Exercise-Related Cardiac Symptoms and ECG Abnormalities in US Youth Athletes. Circ Popul Health Outcomes. Published 2 July 2026. doi:10.1161/circoutcomes.125.013065
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it