Unlocking the enigma: decoding premature ventricular complexes for effective clinical assessment and risk management.

The identification of ventricular premature complexes during a cardiological evaluation necessitates the implementation of diagnostic processes aimed at discerning the clinical context that may predispose individuals to a high risk of sudden cardiac death. Epidemiological studies reveal that ventricular premature beats occur in approximately 75% of healthy (or seemingly healthy) individuals, as long as there is no evidence of underlying structural heart disease, such as benign idiopathic ventricular extrasystole originating from the right and left ventricular outflow tracts. In the real world, however, ventricular ectopic beats with morphologies very similar to seemingly benign occurrences are not uncommon. They are notable in subjects exhibiting rapid and complex repetitive forms during exercise testing and Holter electrocardiogram. Additionally, these subjects may display more or less extensive scarring signs on cardiac magnetic resonance and may have a family history of cardiomyopathy and/or sudden cardiac death. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to critically analyse the process of evaluating premature ventricular complexes, which is crucial for accurate risk stratification. The latter cannot overlook some inevitable elements, including morphology, origin, complexity, and the associated clinical setting (absence or presence of structural heart disease).

Electrocardiographic characteristics of right-bundle-branch-block premature ventricular complexes predicting absence of left ventricular scar in athletes with apparently structural normal heart.

AIMS: Left ventricular scar is an arrhythmic substrate that may be missed by echocardiography and diagnosed only by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), which is a time-consuming and expensive imaging modality. Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) with a right-bundle-branch-block (RBBB) pattern are independent predictors of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) but their positive predictive value is low. We studied which electrocardiographic features of PVCs with an RBBB pattern are associated with a higher probability of the absence of an underlying LGE. METHODS: The study included 121 athletes (36 ± 16 years; 48.8% men) with monomorphic PVCs with an RBBB configuration and normal standard clinical investigations who underwent CMR. LGE was identified in 35 patients (29%), predominantly in those with PVCs with a superior/intermediate axis (SA-IntA) compared to inferior axis (IA) (38% vs. 10%, P = 0.002). Among patients with SA-IntA morphology, the contemporary presence of qR pattern in lead aVR and V1 was exclusively found in patients without LGE at CMR (51.0% vs. 0%, P < 0.0001). Among patients with IA, the absence of LGE correlated to a narrow ectopic QRS (145 ± 16 vs. 184 ± 27 msec, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among athletes with apparently idiopathic PVCs with a RBBB configuration, the presence of a concealed LGE at CMR was documented in 29% of cases, mostly in those with a SA-IntA. In our experience, the contemporary presence of qR pattern in lead aVR and V1 in PVCs with RBBB/SA-IntA morphology or, on the other hand, a relatively narrow QRS in PVCs with an IA, predicted absence of LGE.

Optimal management of patients after acute coronary syndrome.

Patients with clinically established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are at a very high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. An adequate management of risk factors and the implementation of healthy behaviours significantly decrease the risk of unfavourable clinical outcomes and future cardiovascular events, including death. Patients discharged after an acute coronary syndrome should be managed according to their individual risk level in order to ensure the appropriate treatment. Nevertheless, care pathways should also take into consideration the available resources and the logistical/structural aspects. In this setting, cardiac rehabilitation is prosed as a multidisciplinary approach to improving daily function and reducing cardiovascular risk factors. The organization of a network with the involvement of different medical and non-medical figures is essential to ensure successful outcomes and expected cost-effectiveness.

Prevalence and clinical significance of isolated low QRS voltages in young athletes.

AIMS: Low QRS voltages (peak to peak <0.5 mV) in limb leads (LQRSV) on the athlete's electrocardiogram (ECG) may reflect an underlying cardiomyopathy, mostly arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) or non-ischaemic left ventricular scar (NILVS). We studied the prevalence and clinical meaning of isolated LQRSV in a large cohort of competitive athletes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The index group included 2229 Italian competitive athletes [median age 18 years (16-25), 67% males, 97% Caucasian] without major ECG abnormalities at pre-participation screening. Three control groups included Black athletes (N = 1115), general population (N = 1115), and patients with ACM or NILVS (N = 58). Echocardiogram was performed in all athletes with isolated LQRSV and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in those with ventricular arrhythmias or echocardiographic abnormalities. The isolated LQRSV pattern was found in 1.1% index athletes and was associated with increasing age (median age 28 vs. 18 years; P < 0.001), elite status (71% vs. 34%; P < 0.001), body surface area, and body mass index but not with sex, type of sport, and echocardiographic left ventricular mass. The prevalence of isolated LQRSV was 0.2% in Black athletes and 0.3% in young individuals from the general population. Cardiomyopathy patients had a significantly greater prevalence of isolated LQRSV (12%) than index athletes, Black athletes, and general population. Five index athletes with isolated LQSRV and exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias underwent CMR showing biventricular ACM in 1 and idiopathic NILVS in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike cardiomyopathy patients, the ECG pattern of isolated LQRSV was rarely observed in athletes. This ECG sign should prompt clinical work-up for exclusion of an underlying cardiomyopathy.

The Complex but Fascinating Relationship between Sport and Atrial Fibrillation: From Pathophysiology to the Clinical Scenario.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cause of hospital admission among all arrhythmias in the general population. Moreover, AF represents the most common arrhythmia in the athletic population as well. The complex but fascinating relationship between sport and atrial fibrillation has not yet been fully clarified. Although the benefits of moderate physical activity in controlling cardiovascular risk factors and in reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation have been widely demonstrated, some concerns have been raised about the potential adverse effects of physical activity. Endurance activity in middle-aged men athletes appears to increase the risk of AF. Several different physiopathological mechanisms may explain the increased risk of AF in endurance athletes, including the imbalance of the autonomic nervous system, changes in left atrial size and function and presence of atrial fibrosis. The goal of this article is to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical management for AF in athletes, including pharmacological and electrophysiological strategies.

Low QRS voltages and left ventricular hypertrophy: a risky association.

AIMS: Low QRS voltages (LQRSV) are an unexpected finding in left ventricular hypertrophy, i.e. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or athlete's heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prevalence and clinical correlates of LQRSV were investigated in 197 consecutive HCM patients, aged 58 ± 13 years and comparatively in 771 Olympic athletes, aged 23 ± 4. Clinical characterization included family/personal history, symptoms, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, electrocardiographic pattern, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Twenty-two (11%) of HCM and 18 (2.3%) of athletes presented LQRSV. At initial evaluation, in HCM, LQRSV showed no differences vs. non-LQRSV for functional class (90% vs. 91%, in Classes I and II; P = 0.983), symptoms (27% vs. 18%; P = 0.478), and ventricular arrhythmias (40% vs. 39%; P = 857) but showed larger extent of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) at CMR (4.1 ± 1.5 vs. 1.5 ± 0.7 affected segments; P < 0.001). In athletes, LQRSV was associated with larger prevalence of inverted T-waves (22% vs. 9%; P < 0.001) and ventricular arrhythmias (28% vs. 8%; P = 0.005). In one LQRSV athlete, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy was identified. Over 4.5 ± 2.6-year follow-up, presence of LQRSV in HCM was associated with larger incidence of functional deterioration (31% vs. 14%; P = 0.038), stroke (22% vs. 6%; P = 0.008), and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implant (27% vs. 10%; P = 0.015). No clinical events occurred in LQRSV athletes without initial evidence of cardiac disease. CONCLUSION: LQRSV are relatively common (11%) in HCM and have clinical relevance, being predictive over a medium term for a worsening functional class, incidence of stroke, and ICD implant. Instead, LQRSV are rare (2.3%) in athletes but may occasionally be a marker that raises suspicion for underlying cardiac disease at risk.

In the present investigation, we sought to assess prevalence and clinical correlates of LQRSV in 197 consecutive HCM patients and, comparatively, in 771 Olympic athletes. Twenty-two (11%) of HCM presented LQRSV. At initial evaluation, LQRSV patients showed no differences vs. non-LQRSV for functional class (90% vs. 91%, in Classes I and II; P = 0.983), symptoms (27% vs. 18%; P = 0.478), and ventricular arrhythmias (40% vs. 39%; P = 857) but showed larger extent of LGE at CMR (4.1 ± 1.5 vs. 1.5 ± 0.7 affected segments; P < 0.001). Over 4.5 ± 2.6-year follow-up, presence of LQRSV was associated with larger incidence of functional class deterioration (31% vs. 14%; P = 0.038), stroke (22% vs. 6%; P = 0.008), and ICD implant (27% vs. 10%; P = 0.015).Eighteen (2.3%) of athletes presented LQRSV. In athletes, LQRSV was associated with larger prevalence of inverted T-waves (22% vs. 9%; P < 0.001) and ventricular arrhythmias (28% vs. 8%; P = 0.005). In one LQRSV athlete, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy was identified.In conclusion, LQRSV are relatively common (11%) in HCM and have clinical relevance, being predictive over a medium term for a worsening functional class, incidence of stroke, and ICD implant. Instead, LQRSV are rare (2.3%) in athletes but may be a marker that raises suspicion for underlying cardiac disease at risk.

Systematic Cardiovascular Screening in Olympic Athletes before and after SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Conflicting results on the cardiovascular involvement after SARS-CoV-2 infection generated concerns on the safety of return-to-play (RTP) in athletes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac involvement after COVID-19 in Olympic athletes, who had previously been screened in our pre-participation program. Since November 2020, all consecutive Olympic athletes presented to our Institute after COVID-19 prior to RTP were enrolled. The protocol was dictated by the Italian governing bodies and comprised: 12-lead ECG, blood test, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), 24-h ECG monitoring, and spirometry. Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) was also performed. All Athletes were previously screened in our Institute as part of their periodical pre-participation evaluation. Forty-seven Italian Olympic athletes were enrolled: 83% asymptomatic, 13% mildly asymptomatic, and 4% had pneumonia. Uncommon premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) were found in 13% athletes; however, only 6% (n = 3) were newly detected. All newly diagnosed uncommon PVCs were detected by CPET. One of these three athletes had evidence for acute myocarditis by CMR, along with Troponin raise; another had pericardial effusion. No one of the remaining athletes had abnormalities detected by CMR. Cardiac abnormalities in Olympic athletes screened after COVID-19 resolution were detected in a minority, and were associated with new ventricular arrhythmias. Only one had evidence for acute myocarditis (in the presence of symptoms and elevated biomarkers). Our data support the efficacy of the clinical assessment including exercise-ECG to raise suspicion for cardiovascular abnormalities after COVID-19. Instead, the routine use of CMR as a screening tool appears unjustified.