Electrocardiographic Findings in Female Professional Basketball Athletes.

Importance: Previous studies of professional basketball athletes have characterized manifestations of athletic remodeling by echocardiography and electrocardiography (ECG) in males and echocardiography in females. There is a paucity of female, basketball-specific ECG data. Objective: To generate reference range ECG data for female professional basketball athletes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This is a cross-sectional study of ECGs performed on female professional basketball athletes. The Women's National Basketball Association mandates annual preseason ECGs and echocardiograms for each athlete and has partnered with Columbia University Irving Medical Center to annually review these studies. Data for this study were collected during preseason ECG and echocardiography cardiac screening between April and May 2022. Data analysis was performed between February and July 2023. Exposure: Athlete ECGs and echocardiograms were sent to Columbia University Irving Medical Center for core lab analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Quantitative ECG variables were measured. ECG data were qualitatively analyzed for training-related and abnormal findings using the International Recommendations for Electrocardiographic Interpretation in Athletes. Findings from ECGs were compared with corresponding echocardiographic data. Results: There were a total of 173 athletes (mean [SD] age 26.5 [4.1] years; mean [SD] height, 183.4 [9.1] cm; mean [SD] body surface area, 2.0 [0.2] m2), including 129 Black athletes (74.5%) and 40 White athletes (23.1%). By international criteria, 136 athletes (78.6%) had training-related ECG changes and 8 athletes (4.6%) had abnormal ECG findings. Among athletes with at least 1 training-related ECG finding, left ventricular structural adaptations associated with athletic remodeling were present in 64 athletes (47.1%). Increased relative wall thickness, reflecting concentric left ventricular geometry, was more prevalent in athletes with the repolarization variant demonstrating convex ST elevation combined with T-wave inversions in leads V1 to V4 (6 of 12 athletes [50.0%]) than in athletes with early repolarization (5 of 42 athletes [11.9%]) (odds ratio, 7.40; 95% CI, 1.71-32.09; P = .01). Abnormal ECG findings included T-wave inversions (3 athletes [1.7%]), Q waves (2 athletes [1.2%]), prolonged QTc interval (2 athletes [1.2%]), and frequent premature ventricular contractions (1 athlete [0.6%]). Conclusions and Relevance: This cross-sectional study provides reference ECG data for elite female basketball athletes. International criteria-defined training-related findings were common, whereas abnormal ECG findings were rare in this athlete group. These reference data may assist basketball programs and health care professionals using ECGs in screening for female athletes and may be used as a stimulus for future female-specific ECG inquiries.

Snoring Survivors: the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea and continuous positive airway pressure use on in-hospital mortality, length of stay and costs among patients hospitalised with acute cardiovascular disease - A retrospective analysis of 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample Data.

BACKGROUND: The routine administration of supplemental oxygen to non-hypoxic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been abandoned for lack of mortality benefit. However, the benefits of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) use in patients hospitalised with acute cardiovascular disease and concomitant obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) remain to be elucidated. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control analysis, using 10th International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-10) codes, we searched the 2016-2019 Nationwide Inpatient Sample for patients diagnosed with unstable angina (UA), AMI, acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (AFRVR), who also carried a diagnosis of OSA. We identified in-hospital CPAP use with ICD-10-Procedure Coding System codes. In-hospital death, length of stay (LOS) and hospital charges were compared between patients with and without OSA, and between OSA patients with and without CPAP use. RESULTS: Our sample included 2 959 991 patients, of which 1.5% were diagnosed with UA, 30.3% with AMI, 37.5% with ADHF and 45.8% with AFRVR. OSA was present in 12.3%. Patients with OSA were more likely to be younger, male, smokers, obese and have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal failure and heart failure (p<0.001 for all). Patients with OSA had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.71, 95% CI (0.7 to 0.73)). Among patients with OSA, CPAP use significantly increased the odds of in-hospital death (aOR 1.51, 95% CI (1.44 to 1.60)), LOS (adjusted mean difference of 1.49 days, 95% CI (1.43 to 1.55)) and hospital charges (adjusted mean difference of US$1168, 95% CI (273 to 2062)). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that patients with recognised OSA hospitalised for AMI, ADHF and AFRVR had significantly lower mortality regardless of CPAP use, while CPAP treatment among these patients was associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality and resource utilisation. The routine use of CPAP during acute cardiovascular encounters could neutralise the impact of chronic intermittent ischaemic preconditioning.

Impact of Sex on Cardiovascular Adaptations to Exercise: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Routine exercise leads to cardiovascular adaptations that differ based on sex. Use of cardiac testing to screen athletes has driven research to define how these sex-based adaptations manifest on the electrocardiogram and cardiac imaging. Importantly, sex-based differences in cardiovascular structure and outcomes in athletes often parallel findings in the general population, underscoring the importance of understanding their mechanisms. Substantial gaps exist in the understanding of why cardiovascular adaptations and outcomes related to exercise differ by sex because of underrepresentation of female participants in research. As female sports participation rates have increased dramatically over several decades, it also remains unknown if differences observed in older athletes reflect biological mechanisms vs less lifetime access to sports in females. In this review, we will assess the effect of sex on cardiovascular adaptations and outcomes related to exercise, identify the impact of sex hormones on exercise performance, and highlight key areas for future research.

Abnormal exercise adaptation after varying severities of COVID-19: A controlled cross-sectional analysis of 392 survivors.

The multisystem impairment promoted by COVID-19 may be associated with a reduction in exercise capacity. Cardiopulmonary abnormalities can change across the acute disease severity spectrum. We aimed to verify exercise physiology differences between COVID-19 survivors and SARS-CoV-2-naïve controls and how illness severity influences exercise limitation. A single-centre cross-sectional analysis of prospectively collected data from COVID-19 survivors who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in their recovery phase (x = 50[36;72] days). Patients with COVID-19 were stratified according to severity as mild [M-Cov (outpatient)] vs severe/critical [SC-Cov(inpatients)] and were compared with SARS-CoV-2-naïve controls (N-Cov). Collected information included demographics, anthropometrics, previous physical exercise, comorbidities, lung function test and CPET parameters. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify low aerobic capacity (LAC) predictors post COVID-19. Of the 702 included patients, 310 (44.2%), 305 (43.4%) and 87 (12.4%) were N-Cov, M-Cov and SC-Cov, respectively. LAC was identified in 115 (37.1%), 102 (33.4%), and 66 (75.9%) of N-CoV, M-CoV and SC-CoV, respectively (p < 0.001). SC-Cov were older, heavier with higher body fat, more sedentary lifestyle, more hypertension and diabetes, lower forced vital capacity, higher prevalence of early anaerobiosis, ventilatory inefficiency and exercise-induced hypoxia than N-Cov. M-Cov had lower weight, fat mass, and coronary disease prevalence and did not demonstrate more CEPT abnormalities than N-Cov. After adjustment for covariates, SC-Cov was an independent predictor of LAC (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3-5.6). Almost two months after disease onset, SC-CoV presented several exercise abnormalities of oxygen uptake, ventilatory adaptation and gas exchange, including a high prevalence of LAC.Highlights Weeks after the acute disease phase, one-third of mild and three-quarters of severe and critical patients with COVID-19 presented a reduced aerobic capacity. Previous studies including SARS-CoV-1 survivors observed much lower values.A severe or critical COVID-19 case was an independent predictor for low aerobic capacity.In our sample, pre-COVID-19 exercise significantly reduced the odds of post-COVID-19 low aerobic capacity. Even severe or critical patients who exercised regularly had a prevalence of low aerobic capacity 2.5 times lower than those who did not have this routine before sickening.

Differentiating Physiology from Pathology: The Gray Zones of the Athlete's Heart.

Routine vigorous exercise can lead to electrical, structural, and functional adaptations that can enhance exercise performance. There are several factors that determine the type and magnitude of exercise-induced cardiac remodeling (EICR) in trained athletes. In some athletes with pronounced cardiac remodeling, there can be an overlap in morphologic features with mild forms of cardiomyopathy creating gray zone scenarios whereby distinguishing health from disease can be difficult. An integrated clinical approach that factors athlete-specific characteristics (sex, size, sport, ethnicity, and training history) and findings from multimodality imaging are essential to help make this distinction.

Cardiovascular involvement among collegiate athletes following COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of cardiac involvement in young competitive athletes with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection appears to be low. AIM: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular involvement in young competitive athletes. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective cohort study from one Division I university; we assessed the prevalence of cardiovascular involvement among collegiate athletes who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction testing. Data were collected from June 25, 2020, to May 15, 2021. The primary outcome was the prevalence of cardiac involvement based on a comparison of pre- and post-infection electrocardiogram (ECGs). The secondary outcome was to evaluate for any association between ethnicity and the presence or absence of symptoms. RESULTS: Among 99 athletes who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus (mean age 19.9 years [standard deviation 1.7 years]; 31% female), baseline ECG changes suggestive of cardiovascular involvement post-infection were detected in two athletes (2/99; 2%). There was a statistically significant association between ethnicity and the presence or absence of symptoms, χ 2 (3, n = 99) = 10.61, P = 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cardiovascular involvement among collegiate athletes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in this cohort is low. Afro-American and Caucasian athletes are more likely to experience symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection in comparison to Hispanic and Pacific Islander athletes; however, there is no association between ethnicity and symptom severity. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: These data add to the growing body of the literature and agree with larger cohorts that the risk of cardiac involvement post-infection appears to be low among elite athletic and semi-professional athletic populations.

Exercise-Induced Cardiovascular Adaptations and Approach to Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

The role of the sports cardiologist has evolved into an essential component of the medical care of athletes. In addition to the improvement in health outcomes caused by reductions in cardiovascular risk, exercise results in adaptations in cardiovascular structure and function, termed exercise-induced cardiac remodeling. As diagnostic modalities have evolved over the last century, we have learned much about the healthy athletic adaptation that occurs with exercise. Sports cardiologists care for those with known or previously unknown cardiovascular conditions, distinguish findings on testing as physiological adaptation or pathological changes, and provide evidence-based and "best judgment" assessment of the risks of sports participation. We review the effects of exercise on the heart, the approach to common clinical scenarios in sports cardiology, and the importance of a patient/athlete-centered, shared decision-making approach in the care provided to athletes.

Role of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting: A meta-analysis.

Importance: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Controversy exists on the effects of GLP-1 on AMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Study objective: We aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of GLP-1 in AMI patients after PCI and CABG. Design: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to June 2021, with no restriction on publication date. The following search terms are used: "percutaneous coronary intervention" or "coronary artery bypass grafting" or "myocardial infarction" and "glucagon-like peptide 1" or "exenatide" or "liraglutide". Study selection: Articles were independently assessed by 2 reviewers. We included RCTs only that compared GLP-1 with control in AMI patients. Data extraction and synthesis: Continuous data were pooled as mean differences (MDs), while dichotomous variables were pooled as odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence interval (CI), using R software (meta package) for windows. Subgroup analysis according to the intervention type and GLP-agents were conducted. We assessed the heterogeneity among RCTs using the Q statistic and I2 statistic. We also tested publication bias by funnel plot-based methods. The quality of each study was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Main outcomes and measures: Primary outcomes were changes of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial infarct characteristics, salvage index. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiac events (MACE), gastrointestinal events, and hypoglycemia. Results: Nine RCTs (14 reports) including 1216 patients were included in this meta-analysis. At 3 months follow up, GLP-1 was associated with improved LVEF (MD = 2.81, 95% CI [0.69, 4.94]), infarct size in grams (MD = -5.71, 95% CI [-10.24, -1.18]), and salvage index (MD = 0.09, 95% CI [0.05, 0.14]). While, GLP-1 had less MACE rate than control (RR = 0.64, 95% CI [0.41, 0.99]), and higher gastrointestinal side effects (RR = 4.21, 95% CI [2.39, 7.41]). Conclusions and relevance: This meta-analysis illustrated that GLP-1 was associated with better LVEF and reduced infarct size in patients with AMI undergoing PCI and CABG surgery, although the mechanism on how this agent provide this benefit is not clear. Key points: Question: What is the effectiveness of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.Findings: This systematic review and meta-analysis illustrated that GLP-1 was associated with better left ventricular ejection fraction and reduced infarct size in patients with AMI undergoing PCI and CABG surgery, probably by reducing reperfusion injury.Meaning: GLP-1 could improve systolic and diastolic function, lowering the cardiovascular risk of morbidity and mortality in AMI patients.

Large pleural effusions causing cardiac tamponade: a case report and review of the literature.

Hemodynamically significant cardiac tamponade physiology is an uncommon complication of a large pleural effusion. Previous reports have shown that this physiology can be reversed with thoracentesis. We describe a case of a 69-year-old man with multiple cardiac risk factors presenting with decompensated congestive heart failure and unstable angina. A coronary stent was placed in the left anterior descending artery. Two days postprocedure, he became unresponsive and hemodynamically unstable. A chest x-ray (CXR) revealed bilateral large-sized pleural effusions with transthoracic echocardiography demonstrating a small pericardial effusion, large right pleural effusion, and evidence of cardiac tamponade. A right thoracentesis was performed, draining almost 1,000ml of fluid and resulting in a rapid improvement of his hemodynamic profile.

Cardiac sarcoidosis: diagnosis and management.

OPINION STATEMENT: Cardiac sarcoidosis can be life threatening if not promptly diagnosed and treated appropriately and aggressively. The diagnosis of myocardial disease is often difficult and circumstantial because there are no reliable diagnostic tests. Except for the finding of noncaseating granulomas on endomyocardial biopsy, most tests are limited and nonspecific. Therefore, the decision of initiating treatment is based on the patient's symptoms and the course of the disease, rather than on the presence of histologic confirmation. The goal of therapy is to prevent irreversible cardiomyopathy and to thwart the progression to heart transplantation. The mainstay of treatment is corticosteroids, although there are no large randomized trials analyzing corticosteroid use. The combination with other immunosuppressant agents, such as Methotrexate and Azathioprine, is initiated on the patient's failing or experiencing severe side effects from corticosteroids. While there are small studies proving the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-inhibitors in cardiac sarcoidosis, more experience with these agents is needed. Catheter ablation or placement of implantable devices is indicated prophylactically in patients with severe ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Heart transplantation should be considered in patients with severe heart failure refractory to medical therapy. This article focuses on the current diagnostic tests and treatment recommendations for cardiac sarcoidosis.