Cross-sectional study
Electrocardiographic Findings in Female Professional Basketball Athletes
- Cross-sectional study
- core lab analysis
Authors' conclusion
International criteria-defined training-related findings were common, whereas abnormal ECG findings were rare in this athlete group.
Study context
- Population
- Female professional basketball athletes (WNBA preseason screening, April–May 2022)
- Participants
- 173 athletes
- Outcome
- Quantitative ECG variables; training-related and abnormal ECG findings by international criteria for athletes
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
ECG findings by international criteria
Training-related ECG changes
136 athletes (78.6%)
Abnormal ECG findings
8 athletes (4.6%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Convex ST elevation with T-wave inversions V1–V4 | Early repolarization | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased relative wall thickness (concentric LV geometry), by repolarization pattern · 6 of 12 vs 5 of 42 athletes | 50.0% | 11.9% | 7.40 (1.71–32.09) | P = 0.01 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
LV structural adaptations of athletic remodeling, among athletes with ≥1 training-related ECG finding
- LV structural adaptations present
- 64 athletes (47.1%)
Abnormal ECG findings, by type
- T-wave inversions
- 3 athletes [1.7%]
- Q waves
- 2 athletes [1.2%]
- Prolonged QTc interval
- 2 athletes [1.2%]
- Frequent premature ventricular contractions
- 1 athlete [0.6%]
Original publication
Electrocardiographic Findings in Female Professional Basketball Athletes. JAMA Cardiol. Published 1 May 2024. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.0207
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it