This podcast explores the often complex world of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in athletes.
The podcast will guide listeners through the intricacies of ECG interpretation, focusing on the distinction between normal, training-related adaptations and abnormal findings that may indicate underlying heart conditions.
The podcast uses the 2018 international consensus recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes to discuss:
●How to identify normal physiological changes in athletes' ECGs, such as:○Increased QRS voltage.3○Incomplete right bundle branch block.4○Early repolarisation.5○Repolarisation findings in black athletes.6○The "juvenile" electrocardiogram pattern in athletes aged 12–16 years.78○Physiological arrhythmias.
●Borderline ECG findings in athletes that require further investigation if two or more are present.
●Abnormal ECG findings in athletes, such as T-wave inversion, pathological Q waves, left bundle branch block, and prolonged QT interval, and the evaluation required for each abnormality.
●The limitations of ECGs as a diagnostic tool.
●The importance of serial ECG evaluation for athletes with abnormal ECG findings.
This podcast aims to:
●Empower athletes, coaches, and medical professionals with the knowledge to understand ECGs in athletes.
●Promote early detection and intervention for potential cardiac issues.
●Ultimately, contribute to the safety and well-being of athletes at all levels.
This podcast draws on the latest scientific evidence and expert consensus to provide a comprehensive overview of ECG interpretation in athletes.
The information presented will be relevant for anyone involved in the care of athletes, from amateur to elite levels.