Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts

American Heart Journal Plus

Richard J. Kovacs¹  Omar D. Nahhas²  Matthew W. Martinez³  Michael S. Emery⁴  Asad J. Torabi⁴  Andrew M. Tucker⁵  Reginald E. Dunn⁵  Andrew E. Lincoln⁵ 

[1] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA;Advocate Aurora Health Cardiology, Milwaukee, WI, USA;Atlantic Health – Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ, USA;Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA;MedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, Baltimore, MD, USA;

关键词: Athletes;    Sports;    American style football;    Electrocardiogram;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: The presence of T-wave abnormalities (TWA) on an athlete's electrocardiogram (ECG) presents as a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Types of TWA patterns classified as abnormal by inexperienced readers have not been systematically analyzed. Methods: ECGs from the 2011–2015 National Football League Scouting Combine (initially interpreted by general cardiologists) were retrospectively reviewed by expert sports cardiologists with strict application of the 2017 International Criteria. Patterns of TWA that were altered from the original interpretation were analyzed. Results: The study included 1643 athletes (mean age 22 years). There was a 67 % reduction in the number of athletes with any TWA (p < 0.001) with 111 ECGs changed to normal. Inferior TWA was the most common interpreted initial ECG abnormality altered followed by anterior and lateral. Discussion: This analysis revealed an initial high rate of TWA by non-expert readers. Tailored education programs to physicians who interpret athlete ECGs should highlight these specific T-wave patterns. We see this as an opportunity to make more clinicians aware of ECG interpretation guidelines as sports trained cardiologists are mostly self-taught.

【 授权许可】

Unknown