[Possibilities for predicting of cardiac arrhythmias and conductivity disorders in former athletes.]

In order to analyze the relationship between the athletic qualification and syndrome of cardiac rhythm and conductivity disturbances in former athletes, a retrospective analysis of medical records of 39 male former athletes with cardiovascular complaints (mean age 61,6±11,3 years, mean duration of career in sports 23,9±17,3 years, mean duration of post-athletic period 20,1±9,9 years) was carried out. The patients were screened for cardiac arrhythmias and underwent echocardiography. The overall prevalence of sustained paroxysms of atrial fibrillation was 42%, increasing with the athletic qualification. Ryan grade 4b-5 premature ventricular contractions were found in 14% of patients. 3 parameters were found to be the independent predictors of arrhythmias in former athletes, i. e. athletic qualification, multifocal atherosclerosis (as an anti-risk factor), and age. The coefficient of determinance for the created prognostic model reached 43%. Further prospective studies are needed to validate an algorithm.

[Plasma D-dimer volume as a subclinical marker of thrombotic risk in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation.]

Aged patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at high risk of both thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications of disease and of its treatment. A study was provided to assess the role of D-dimer plasma level as a marker of thrombosis in aged patients with AF having no clinical signs of active thrombosis depending on used treatment strategy and quantitative thrombotic and haemorrhagic risk of AF. The results show that D-dimer plasma levels correlate with scores of thromboembolic and haemorrhagic risks in group on antiplatelet agents but not anticoagulants, with the difference in D-dimer level driven by subgroup on CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥5. High D-dimer level was associated with in-hospital mortality and rhythm of AF at the moment of blood sample collection. Therefore, an accuracy of risk prognosis of fatal complications of AF for elderly patients may be increased by using the laboratory markers of thrombus formation such as D-dimer and by using the obtained results to guide an antithrombotic therapy.

[The influence of personal history of athletic activity on clinical course of cardiovascular diseases in former athletes.]

In this article, the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders is evaluated in former athletes with established cardiovascular diseases compared to cohort with comparable demographic profile and prevalence of hypertension and atherosclerosis. It is shown that the group of former athletes had a higher prevalence of hemodynamically significant pauses of asystole (RR 2,94, p=0,044), SA node blocks (RR 5,51, p=0,02) and required implantation of a permanent pacemaker more frequently (RR 5,14, p=0,017). A higher level of sports performance and sports experience are associated with higher risk of atrial fibrillation, and a longer career in sports is associated with higher burden of arrhythmias and dilated atria. The frequency of occurrence of eccentric hypertrophy increased with increasing athletic experience and inversely linked with the period of deconditioning. The changes are most pronounced in elite athletes, mandating the screening of rhythm and conduction disturbances in this subpopulation.