Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCross-sectional study
Prevalence and relation to training of electrocardiographic findings in Caucasian children and adolescents 8- to 18-year-old practicing competitive sport
- Cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
Paediatric athletes exhibit less prominent ECG changes than their adult counterparts, requiring specific criteria.
Study context
- Population
- Young apparently healthy Caucasian athletes aged 8–18 years undergoing pre-participation screening
- Participants
- 2,458 athletes
- Outcome
- Prevalence of ECG abnormalities (2017 International criteria plus fragmented QRS and low QRS voltages in limb leads) and relation to training
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Common findings: mild sinus bradycardia (55-60 b.p.m.), early repolarization, incomplete RBBB, LV or RV hypertrophy voltage criteria, T-wave inversion in V1-V3 before age 12
>5%
Uncommon findings: HR 50-55 b.p.m., first-degree AV block, right-axis deviation, T-wave inversion in V1-V3 at 12-16 years; prevalence modulated by age, gender and/or training status
1-5%
All other electrocardiographic (ECG) findings rare
<1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
At-risk CVD diagnosis
- Athletes with at-risk CVD diagnosis
- 10 (0.4%)
- Of these, with rare ECG abnormalities
- 6
- Of these, with uncommon ECG abnormalities
- 1
- Of these 7, classified as normal by International criteria (IC)
- 3
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it