Cardiovascular Risk Profile in Master Paralympic Athletes, a High-Risk Undertreated Population: A Cross-Sectional Longitudinal Study.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) validated a prediction model to estimate 10-year fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease risk (CVDR) in individuals (aged 40-60 years) without previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes (ESC-SCORE2) and to provide indications for treatment. At present, data describing the CVDR in Paralympic athletes (PAs) are scarce and inconsistent. Therefore, we sought to assess the prevalence of risk factors in PAs to estimate their CVDR through SCORE2. METHODS: We enrolled 99 PAs aged ≥ 40 y.o., who participated at 2012-2022 Paralympic Games, competing in 22 different sport disciplines classified according to sport type (power, skills, endurance and mixed) and disabilities: spinal cord injuries (SCI) and non-SCI. CVDR factors, anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected. RESULTS: Among the 99 PAs (78% males, mean age 45.7 ± 4.7 y.o.), 52.5% had SCI; 54% were dyslipidemic and 23% were smokers. According to ESC-SCORE2, 29% had high and 1% very-high CVDR. Women (compared to men) and endurance (compared to other sport) exhibited better CV profile. SCI showed no differences when compared with non-SCI for CVDR, excepted for a lower HDL and lower exercise performance. None of the dyslipidemic athlete was on pharmacologically treatment, despite the altered lipid profile had already been detected at younger age. CONCLUSION: PAs are a selected population, presenting a high CV risk profile, with 30% showing either high or very-high CVDR according to ESC-SCORE2. Dyslipidemia was the most common risk factor, underestimated and undertreated, emphasizing the need for specific preventive strategies in this special setting of athletes.

Lack of cardiac remodelling in elite endurance athletes: an unexpected and not so rare finding.

PURPOSE: Endurance elite athletes are expected to present a cardiac remodelling, characterized by eccentric hypertrophy (EH), may be associated with higher sportive performances. However, not all can present a cardiac remodelling. The study aimed to identify endurance athletes without cardiac remodelling characterizing their physiologic and clinical features. METHODS: We studied 309 endurance athletes (cycling, rowing, canoeing, triathlon, athletics, long-distance swimming, cross-country skiing, mid-long distance track, pentathlon, biathlon, long-distance skating and Nordic-combined) examined during period of training, by clinical evaluation, ECG, echocardiogram and exercise-stress test. Sport career achievements (Olympic\World championship medals or national\world records) were recorded. RESULTS: EH was found in most of athletes, (n = 126, 67% of males; n = 85, 68.5% of females). A significant proportion,, exhibited normal geometry (NG) ( n = 59, 31.3% in males; n = 39, 31.4% in females). At stress test, significant differences between EH and NG athletes were found in peak power (317.1 ± 71.2W in NG vs. 342.2 ± 60.6W in EH, p = 0.014 in males and 225.1 ± 38.7W in NG vs. 247.1 ± 37W in EH, p = 0.003 in females), rest heart rate (66.1 ± 13 in NG vs. 58.6 ± 11.6 in EH, p = 0.001 in males and 68 ± 13.2 in NG vs. 59.2 ± 11.2 in EH, p = 0.001 in females) with similar ventricular extrasystoles (p = 0.363 in males and p = 0.492 in females). However, no significant differences in athletic achievements were registered. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates a relatively high prevalence of NG in endurance athletes, in addition to the expected EH. Athletes with NG perform worse in exercise-stress test and exhibit some less advantageous functional heart characteristics. However, the type of heart geometry is not associated with negative clinical findings.

The role of cardiac magnetic resonance in sports cardiology: results from a large cohort of athletes.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) provides information on morpho-functional abnormalities and myocardial tissue characterisation. Appropriate indications for CMR in athletes are uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the CMR performed at our Institute to evaluate variables associated with pathologic findings in a large cohort of athletes presenting with different clinical conditions. METHODS: All the CMR performed at our Institute in athletes aged > 14 years were recruited. CMR indications were investigated. CMR was categorised as "positive" or "negative" based on the presence of morphological and/or functional abnormalities and/or the presence of late gadolinium enhancement (excluding the right ventricular insertion point), fat infiltration, or oedema. Variables associated with "positive" CMR were explored. RESULTS: A total of 503 CMR were included in the analysis. "Negative" and "positive" CMR were 61% and 39%, respectively. Uncommon ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) were the most frequent indications for CMR, but the proportion of positive results was low (37%), and only polymorphic ventricular patterns were associated with positive CMR (p = 0.006). T-wave inversion at 12-lead ECG, particularly on lateral and inferolateral leads, was associated with positive CMR in 34% of athletes (p = 0.05). Echocardiography abnormalities resulted in a large proportion (58%) of positive CMR, mostly cardiomyopathies. CONCLUSION: CMR is more efficient in identifying a pathologic cardiac substrate in athletes in case of VAs (i.e., polymorphic beats), abnormal ECG repolarisation (negative T-waves in inferolateral leads), and borderline echocardiographic findings (LV hypertrophy, mildly depressed LV function). On the other hand, CMR is associated with a large proportion of negative results. Therefore, a careful clinical selection is needed to indicate CMR in athletes appropriately.

Influence of the Type of Disability and Sporting Discipline on Lipid Profile in a Cohort of Italian Paralympic Athletes.

Dyslipidemia is the most frequent cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in able-bodied athletes and is frequently undertreated, resulting in an underestimated risk of atherosclerosis-related diseases. Data on lipid profile in Paralympic athletes are lacking. Our study aimed to identify the prevalence of dyslipidemia and the influence of disability type and sporting discipline in Paralympic athletes. We evaluated 289 athletes who participated in the Paralympic Games from London 2012 to Beijing 2022. All athletes underwent clinical/physical evaluation, blood tests, and body composition analysis. They were divided into different groups based on sports disciplines and disability type (spinal cord injuries [SCIs] and non-SCIs [NSCIs]). Among the Paralympic athletes, 34.6% had a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level ≥115 mg/100 ml. They were older (38.1 ± 9.2 vs 30.6 ± 9.6, p = 0.001) and had a higher CV risk. Athletes with SCI showed similar total cholesterol and triglycerides, higher LDL (110.9 ± 35.2 vs 102.7 ± 30.6 mg/100 ml, p = 0.03) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (53.6 ± 13.6 vs 60.5 ± 15.4 mg/100 ml, p = 0.001) than those with NSCI. Endurance athletes had lower LDL, the highest HDL, and the lowest triglycerides and LDL/HDL ratio compared with other sports disciplines. A mean follow-up of 61.5 ± 30.5 months was available in 47% athletes, and 72.7% of the athletes with dyslipidemia continued to present altered LDL values at follow-up. In conclusion, dyslipidemia is the most common CV risk factor in the Paralympics, affecting 35% of athletes, with only mild lipid changes over a medium-term time. The type of disability and sporting discipline has an impact on lipids, improving HDL and reducing LDL, with a better profile observed in NSCI and endurance athletes.

Left Ventricular Trabeculation: Arrhythmogenic and Clinical Significance in Elite Athletes.

INTRODUCTION: Left ventricular (LV) trabeculations (LVTs) are common findings in athletes. Limited information exists regarding clinical significance, management, and outcome. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and morphologic characteristics of LVTs in elite athletes, with a focus on clinical correlates and prognostic significance. METHODS: We enrolled 1,492 Olympic elite athletes of different sports disciplines with electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and exercise stress test. Individuals with a definite diagnosis of LV noncompaction (LVNC) were excluded; we focused on athletes with LVTs not meeting the criteria for LVNC. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-five (29.1%) athletes presented with LVTs, which were more frequent in male athletes (62.1% vs 53.5%, P = .002) and Black athletes compared with Caucasian (7.1% vs 2.4%, P < .0001) and endurance athletes (P = .0005). No differences were found with relation to either the site or extent of trabeculations. Endurance athletes showed a higher proportion of LVTs and larger LV volumes (end-diastolic and end-systolic, respectively, 91.5 ± 19.8 mL vs 79.3 ± 29.9 mL, P = .002; and 33.1 ± 10 mL vs 28.6 ± 11.7 mL, P = .007) and diastolic pattern with higher E wave (P = .01) and e' septal velocities (P = .02). Ventricular arrhythmias were found in 14% of LVTs versus 11.6% of athletes without LVTs (P = .22). Neither the location nor the LVTs' extension were correlated to ventricular arrhythmias. At 52 ± 32 months of follow-up, no differences in arrhythmic burden were observed (11.1% in LVT athletes vs 10.2%, P = .51). CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular trabeculations are quite common in athletes, mostly male, Black, and endurance, likely as the expression of adaptive remodeling. In the absence of associated clinical abnormalities, such as LV systolic and diastolic impairment, electrocardiogram repolarization abnormalities, or family evidence of cardiomyopathy, athletes with LVTs have benign clinical significance and should not require further investigation.

CMR Mapping: The 4th-Era Revolution in Cardiac Imaging.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has witnessed substantial progress with the advent of parametric mapping techniques, most notably T1 and T2 mapping. These advanced techniques provide valuable insights into a wide range of cardiac conditions, including ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, inflammatory cardiomyopathies, heart valve disease, and athlete's heart. Mapping could be the first sign of myocardial injury and oftentimes precedes symptoms, changes in ejection fraction, and irreversible myocardial remodeling. The ability of parametric mapping to offer a quantitative assessment of myocardial tissue properties addresses the limitations of conventional CMR methods, which often rely on qualitative or semiquantitative data. However, challenges persist, especially in terms of standardization and reference value establishment, hindering the wider clinical adoption of parametric mapping. Future developments should prioritize the standardization of techniques to enhance their clinical applicability, ultimately optimizing patient care pathways and outcomes. In this review, we endeavor to provide insights into the potential contributions of CMR mapping techniques in enhancing the diagnostic processes across a range of cardiac conditions.

Prevalence of Hyperuricemia and Associated Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Elite Athletes Practicing Different Sporting Disciplines: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Uricemia has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In the general population, hyperuricemia is associated with hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and other cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors. Our aim was to explore the prevalence of hyperuricemia among Olympic athletes, evaluating the influence of sporting discipline and its correlation with CVR factors. We enrolled 1173 Olympic athletes classified into four disciplines: power, skill, endurance, and mixed. Clinical, anthropometric data, and complete blood test results were collected. Hyperuricemia was present in 4.4% of athletes, 0.3% were hypertensive, 11.7% had high-normal blood pressure values, 0.2% were diabetic, 1.2%. glucose intolerance, 8.2% active smokers, and 3% were obese. Males had a higher prevalence of hyperuricemia (5.3%) than females (3.4%) with no significant differences between different sporting disciplines (male, p = 0.412; female p = 0.561). Males with fat mass >22% presented higher uricemia (5.8 ± 1 vs. 5.3 ± 1 mg/dL, p = 0.010) like hypertensive athletes (6.5 ± 0.3 vs. 5.3 ± 1 mg/dL, p = 0.031), those with high-normal blood pressure (5.13 ± 1 vs. 4.76 ± 1.1 mg/dL, p = 0.0004) and those with glucose intolerance (6 ± 0.8 vs. 5.3 ± 1 mg/dL, p = 0.066). The study provides a comprehensive evaluation of hyperuricemia among Olympic athletes, revealing a modest prevalence, lower than in the general population. However, aggregation of multiple CVR factors could synergistically elevate the risk profile, even in a population assumed to be at low risk. Therefore, uric acid levels should be monitored as part of the CVR assessment in athletes.

Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic Hormone Therapy: Study on Olympic Female Athletes.

Female physiology is regulated after puberty by the menstrual cycle, whose hormonal fluctuations create a multitude of effects on several systems, including the cardiovascular one. The use of hormone therapy (HT) is quite common in female athletes, and data on cardiovascular effects in this population are lacking. We sought to investigate the effects of HT in highly trained athletes to assess any difference associated with HT on cardiac remodeling, exercise capacity, and clinical correlates. We studied 380 female elite athletes (mean age 25.5 ± 4.8) competing in endurance and mixed sports; 67 athletes (18%) were in chronic HT therapy. All athletes underwent baseline electrocardiography, exercise electrocardiography stress test, transthoracic echocardiogram, and complete blood tests, including lipid profile and inflammation indexes. The echocardiographic study showed a characteristic left ventricular (LV) remodeling, defined by lower LV mass index (86.2 vs 92.5 g/m2, p <0.006), end-diastolic LV diameter (28.3 vs 29.4 mm/m2, p <0.004), and end-diastolic LV volume (61.82 vs 67.09 ml/m2, p <0.010) compared with controls, without changes in systolic function and diastolic relaxation/filling indexes. A lower burden of ventricular arrhythmias on exercise was observed in HT athletes (1.5% vs 8.6% in those without therapy, p = 0.040). Linear regression analysis showed that HT had an independent effect on LV end-diastolic diameter indexed (p = 0.014), LV end-diastolic volume indexed (p = 0.030), and LV mass indexed (p = 0.020). In conclusion, chronic treatment with HT in female athletes is associated with less cardiac remodeling, including a lower LV cavity, volume, and mass, with preserved systolic and diastolic function, and decreased burden of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias. HT, therefore, appears to be responsible for a more economic but equally efficient cardiac adaptation to intensive athletic conditioning.

A Meta-Analysis of Short-Term Outcomes of TAVR versus SAVR in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis and TAVR Results in Different Bicuspid Valve Anatomies.

BACKGROUND: To provide a comprehensive analysis of the current literature comparing the outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAS), with particular attention to BAV morphology in patients undergoing TAVR. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, all relevant articles with no design restrictions from PubMed, CCTR (Cochrane Controlled Trials Register), and Google Scholar were screened for inclusion. Studies were included if they reported clinical endpoints for SAVR and TAVR or, in BAS treated with TAVR, for type 1 and non-type 1 morphology. Odds ratio and Cohen's D were considered as effect size measurements for qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively. RESULTS: A total of eight studies comparing short-term outcomes between SAVR and TAVR and nine studies with outcomes data between type 1 and non-type 1 BAS treated with TAVR were considered for the final analysis. No statistically significant difference was found for what concerns the rates of death, stroke, and acute kidney injury between SAVR and TAVR. In comparison to patients undergoing SAVR, the incidence of PPI (permanent pacemaker implantation) was greater in the TAVR group (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15-0.79, p = 0.01), and the frequency of bleeding events was found to be higher among patients undergoing SAVR (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.9-6.4, p < 0.001). The probabilities of 30-day mortality, stroke, and any bleeding were not significantly affected by bicuspid valve morphology in TAVR patients. PPI or development of new conduction anomalies was found to be more frequent in type 1 anatomies (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.30-0.70, p <0.001). Mildly lower post-procedural transprothesic gradients were found in patients with type 1 morphology. CONCLUSIONS: In BAS patients, TAVR has comparable short-term outcomes rates with SAVR, but higher PPI rates and lower incidence of bleeding events. In patients undergoing TAVR, type 1 BAS is associated with lower postoperative transvalvular gradients but higher PPI rates and conduction abnormalities.

Lipid Profile in Olympic Athletes: Proposal for a "Lipid Athlete Score" as a Clinical Tool to Identify High-Risk Athletes.

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Identification of dyslipidemia in athletes has raised interest in establishing preventive strategies and reducing cardiovascular (CV) events. Nowadays, targets or "scores" for athletes are undefined. The aim of our study was to create a "Lipid Athlete Score" based on lipid parameters and derive score indexes to identify high-risk athletes. We retrospectively enrolled 957 Olympic athletes practicing different sporting disciplines (power, skills, endurance, and mixed), analyzing their CV profiles and anthropometrics; 55.4% were male, the mean age was 27.1 ± 5 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.1 ± 3.2 kg/m2. Three hundred and forty-three athletes (35.8%) were dyslipidemic (LDL ≥ 115 mg/dL or LDL/HDL ≥ 1.90). Multivariate analysis revealed the following: male p = 0.001, OR 1.88 [0.41-2.51], familiarity for dyslipidemia p = 0.001, OR 2.82 [1.72-4.59], BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2p = 0.001, OR 2.53 [1.46-4.38], and fat mass p = 0.001, OR 2.29 [1.38-3.80] were significant. Endurance athletes presented the lowest CV risk. We proposed a lipid athlete score including major (LDL ≥ 115 mg/dL and LDL/HDL ≥ 1.90) and minor criteria (male, BMI > 30 kg/m2 or fat mass >22% for males and 32% for females, familiarity for dyslipidemia, and conventional CV risk factors). Twelve athletes (1.2%) were at high risk, 150 athletes (15.7%) at medium risk, 171 athletes (17.9%) at low risk, and 624 (65.2%) were at no risk. Dyslipidemia is very common in elite athletes. We have defined a specific lipid athlete score based on lipid parameters and derived score indexes for the stratification of risk. In accordance with this tool, a substantial proportion of athletes (16.9%) were at medium-to-high risk and need early preventive strategies to improve their lipid profiles and reduce the future development of atherosclerotic CV diseases.

Periodic health evaluation in athletes competing in Tokyo 2020: from SARS-CoV-2 to Olympic medals.

Background: The Tokyo Olympic games were the only games postponed for a year in peacetime, which will be remembered as the COVID-19 Olympics. No data are currently available on the effect on athlete's performance. Aim: To examine the Italian Olympic athletes who have undergone the return to play (RTP) protocol after COVID-19 and their Olympic results. Methods: 642 Potential Olympics (PO) athletes competing in 19 summer sport disciplines were evaluated through a preparticipation screening protocol and, when necessary, with the RTP protocol. The protocol comprised blood tests, 12-lead resting ECG, transthoracic echocardiogram, cardiopulmonary exercise test, 24-hour Holter-ECG monitoring and cardiovascular MR based on clinical indication. Results: Of the 642 PO athletes evaluated, 384 participated at the Olympic Games, 254 being excluded for athletic reasons. 120 athletes of the total cohort of 642 PO were affected by COVID-19. They were evaluated with the RTP protocol before resuming physical activity after a mean detraining period of 30±13 days. Of them, 100 were selected for Olympic Games participation, 16 were excluded for athletic reasons and 4 were due to RTP results (2 for COVID-19-related myocarditis, 1 for pericarditis and 1 for complex ventricular arrhythmias). Among athletes with a history of COVID-19 allowed to resume physical activity after the RTP and selected for the Olympic Games, no one had abnormalities in cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters, and 28 became medal winners with 6 gold, 6 silver and 19 bronze medals. Conclusions: Among athletes with COVID-19, there is a low prevalence of cardiac sequelae. For those athletes allowed to resume physical activity after the RTP evaluation, the infection and the forced period of inactivity didn't have a negative impact on athletic performance.

Sizing SGLT2 Inhibitors Up: From a Molecular to a Morpho-Functional Point of View.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), or gliflozins, have recently been shown to reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalization in patients with heart failure, representing a revolutionary therapeutic tool. The purpose of this review is to explore their multifaceted mechanisms of actions, beyond their known glucose reduction power. The cardioprotective effects of gliflozins seem to be linked to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and to an action on the main metabolic pathways. They improve the oxygen supply for cardiomyocytes with a considerable impact on both functional and morphological myocardial aspects. Moreover, multiple molecular actions of SGLT2i are being discovered, such as the reduction of both inflammation, oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis, all responsible for myocardial damage. Various studies showed controversial results concerning the role of SGLT2i in reverse cardiac remodeling and the lowering of natriuretic peptides, suggesting that their overall effect has yet to be fully understood. In addition to this, advanced imaging studies evaluating the effect on all four cardiac chambers are lacking. Further studies will be needed to better understand the real impact of their administration, their use in daily practice and how they can contribute to benefits in terms of reverse cardiac remodeling.

Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of hyperbilirubinemia in a cohort of Italian Olympic athletes.

INTRODUCTION: Bilirubin was supposed to have cardio-metabolic protective role by signaling functions. Indeed, mild hyperbilirubinemia has immunosuppressive and endocrine activities and may offer protection against oxidative stress-mediated diseases. Gilbert syndrome (GS) has been hypothesized to provide cardio-metabolic benefits. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia and its cardio-metabolic effects in a cohort of elite Italian athletes engaged in different sports disciplines. METHODS: We enrolled 1492 elite athletes (age 25.8 ± 5.1) practising different disciplines (power, skills, endurance, and mixed) underwent blood, echocardiographic, and exercise tests. GS was diagnosed per exclusionem in athletes with isolated asymptomatic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. RESULTS: GS was highlighted in 91 athletes (6%; globally 9% male and 2.4% female); 82% were males (p < 0.0001) showing higher indirect bilirubin (0.53 ± 0.4 vs. 0.36 ± 0.24 mg/dL in females, p < 0.0001). GS athletes had fewer platelets (201 ± 35 vs. 214 ± 41, p = 0.01), higher iron (male: 124 ± 44 vs. 100.9 ± 34 mcg/dL, p < 0.0001; female: 143.3 ± 35 vs. 99.9 ± 42 mcg/dL, p < 0.0001), and lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate, (1.93 ± 0.9 vs. 2.80 ± 2.7 mm/H, p = 0.03). At multivariate analysis, male (OR 3.89, p = 0.001) and iron (OR 3.47, p = 0.001) were independently associated with GS. No significant differences were found in cardiac remodeling, heart rate, blood pressure, arrhythmias, or power capacity at stress test. Endurance athletes (313) presented higher total (p = 0.003) and indirect bilirubin (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Bilirubin has several metabolic effects (including immunosuppressive and endocrine) and plays a role in regulating antioxidant pathways exercise-related with hematological consequences but seems not to affect significantly cardiovascular remodeling. Endurance athletes present higher bilirubin concentrations, likely as an adaptive mechanism to counteract increased oxidative stress.

Sport activity in patients with cardiomyopathies: a review.

Exercise has undisputable benefits and is an important therapy component for most cardiovascular diseases, with a proven role in reducing mortality. On the contrary, exercise may paradoxically trigger sudden cardiac arrest in patients with cardiomyopathies requiring refrain from competitive sports participation. The 2020 European guidelines for patients with cardiovascular disease provided indication for sports participation for patients with cardiac conditions, including cardiomyopathies. Although in some cases, the knowledge of the natural history of the disease and the risk of death during intensive exercise is more robust, in others, the evidence is scarce. Therefore, recommendations are not available for all possible scenarios with several uncertainties. In addition, many patients aspire to continue competitive sports or practise recreational activities after a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. These aspects generate concern for the physician, who should make complex decisions, and confronts the request to design specific exercise programmes without specific indications. This article will review the available evidence on the sports-related risk of sudden cardiac death or cardiovascular events and the progression of the disease in cardiomyopathies.

Short and Long-Term Cardiovascular Sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Narrative Review Focusing on Athletes.

Cardiovascular (CV) involvement after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection was found to be frequent among the general population, especially in the pre-vaccination era, and particularly for hospitalized patients or those who experienced a more severe course of the disease. The spectrum of CV disease varies; however, acute myocarditis is particularly fearsome for the athletic population due to the possible associated risk of malignant arrhythmias during training. Alarming percentages of CV injuries, even in young and healthy athletes with a benign course of the disease, arose from a few initial studies limited to case series. Subsequent single-center studies and larger observational registries reported a lower prevalence of SARS-CoV2 CV involvement in athletes. Studies showing the occurrence of CV adverse events during follow-up periods are now available. The objective of our narrative review is to provide an updated summary of the literature on CV involvement after coronavirus disease 2019, both in the early post-infection period and over a longer period of time, with a focus on athletic populations.

Low prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in competitive athletes at return-to-play after COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac involvement after COVID-19 in competitive athletes at return-to-play (RTP) evaluation, following the recommended Italian protocol including cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and 24-Hour Holter monitoring. DESIGN AND METHODS: this is a single centre observational, cross-sectional study. Since October 2020, all competitive athletes (age ≥ 14 years) evaluated in our Institute after COVID-19, prior RTP were enrolled. The protocol dictated by the Italian governing bodies included: 12­lead ECG, blood test, CPET, 24-h ECG monitoring, spirometry. Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) was performed based on clinical indication. RESULTS: 219 consecutive athletes were examined (59% male), age 23 years (IQR 19-27), 21% asymptomatic, 77% mildly symptomatic, 2% with previous pneumonia. The evaluation was performed after a median of 10 (6-17) days from negative SARS-CoV-2 swab. All athletes showed a good exercise capacity at CPET without cardiovascular and respiratory limitations. Uncommon premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) were found in 9.5% (n = 21) at CPET/Holter ECG monitoring. Two athletes (0.9%) were diagnosed with acute myocarditis (by CMR) and another one with new pericardial effusion. All the three athletes were temporally restricted from sport participation. CONCLUSIONS: Myocarditis in competitive athletes screened after COVID-19 resolution was detected in a low minority of the cases (0.9%). However, a non-negligible prevalence of uncommon PVCs (9%) was observed, either at CPET and/or Holter ECG monitoring, including all athletes with COVID-19 related cardiovascular abnormalities.

Prognostic role of pre- and postinterventional myocardial injury in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pre-procedural and acute post-procedural myocardial injury are frequently observed in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic role of high sensitivity cardiac troponins (hs-cTns) elevation before and after TAVI. METHODS: 106 patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI were enrolled. High sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) was measured before and after TAVI (6, 24, 48, 72 hours). Post-procedural myocardial damage was defined as a 15-fold rise in hs-cTnT upper reference limit (URL) after TAVI. The clinical endpoints were all cause death, cardiovascular death and re-hospitalization at 24 months follow-up. RESULTS: Before TAVI, hs-cTnT median value was 0.03 µg/L (2.3±2.1 fold over URL). After TAVI procedure, myocardial damage (MD), as defined by VARC-2 criteria, was observed in 40 patients (38%) (MD group). In our population, logarithmically transformed hs-cTnTs were independently associated with all-cause mortality at 24 months F/U (pre-TAVI hs-cTnT: Hazard ratio [HR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 4.4, P=0.027). No significant differences were observed between the MD and non-MD groups for the three endpoints of all cause death (p log rank: 0.15), cardiovascular death (p log rank: 0.86) and re-hospitalization (p log rank: 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Only baseline hs-cTnT levels correlated with outcomes at 24 months of follow-up. Chronic pre-procedural myocardial injury significantly affects prognosis after TAVI.

Cardiac and Vascular Remodeling After 6 Months of Therapy With Sacubitril/Valsartan: Mechanistic Insights From Advanced Echocardiographic Analysis.

Background: Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan (S/V) on left ventricular (LV) mechanics and ventricular-arterial coupling in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate both cardiac and vascular remodeling in a group of HFrEF patients undergoing S/V therapy. Methods: Fifty HFrEF patients eligible to start a therapy with S/V were enrolled. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed at baseline and after 6 months of follow-up (FU). Beside standard evaluation, including global longitudinal strain (GLS), estimated hemodynamic forces (HDFs) and non-invasive pressure-volume curves (PV loop) were assessed using dedicated softwares. HDFs were evaluated over the entire cardiac cycle, in systole and diastole, both in apex to base (A-B) and latero-septal (L-S) directions. The distribution of LV HDFs was evaluated by L-S over A-B HDFs ratio (L-S/A-B HDFs ratio). Parameters derived from estimated PV loop curves were left ventricular end-systolic elastance (Ees), arterial elastance (Ea), and ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC). Results: At 6 months of FU indexed left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes decreased (EDVi: 101 ± 28 mL vs. 86 ± 30 mL, p < 0.001; ESVi: 72 ± 23 mL vs. 55 ± 24 mL, p < 0.001), ejection fraction and GLS significantly improved (EF: 29 ± 6% vs. 37 ± 7%, p < 0.001; GLS: -9 ± 3% vs. -13 ± 4%, p < 0.001). A reduction of Ea (2.11 ± 0.91 mmHg/mL vs. 1.72 ± 0.44 mmHg/mL, p = 0.008) and an improvement of Ees (1.01 ± 0.37 mmHg/mL vs. 1.35 ± 0.6 mmHg/mL, p < 0.001) and VAC (2.3 ± 1.1 vs. 1.5 ± 0.7, p < 0.001) were observed. Re-alignment of HDFs occurred, with a reduction of diastolic L-S/A-B HDFs ratio [23 (20-35)% vs. 20 (11-28) %, p < 0.001]. Conclusion: S/V therapy leads to a complex phenomenon of reverse remodeling involving increased myocardial contractility, HDFs distribution improvement, and afterload reduction.

Prognostic value of systemic inflammatory response syndrome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

AIMS: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) could affect mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) up to 12 months of follow-up. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of SIRS after TAVI and its impact on all-cause mortality up to 24 months follow-up. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 132 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI. SIRS development during the first 72 h after the intervention was evaluated. Other postoperative complications were defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 (VARC2). All patients underwent follow-up at 30 days and 24 months. Endpoints were 30-days and 24-months mortality. RESULTS: Post-TAVI SIRS developed in 27 patients (20%). At 30-day follow-up, all-cause death occurred in 10 (8%) patients and SIRS occurred more frequently in patients with adverse short-term outcome (60 vs. 17%; P = 0.001). Twenty-four months all-cause death occurred in 25 (19%) patients. SIRS resulted as an independent predictor of long-term outcome [hazard ratio 3.7; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5-9; P = 0.004], along with major vascular complications (hazard ratio 4; 95% CI 1.6-9.9; P = 0.003), relevant bleedings (hazard ratio 6.4; 95% CI 1.5-28; P = 0.013) and baseline pulmonary hypertension (hazard ratio 2.4; 95% CI 1.05-5.6; P = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Postoperative SIRS was more frequent in patients who died at 30 days follow-up. Moreover, SIRS resulted as a predictor of 24-month mortality along with vascular complications, relevant bleedings and baseline pulmonary hypertension.