Le cœur d’athlète de l’adolescent : aspects électrocardiographiques et échocardiographiques. À propos de 107 sportifs français

Abstract: Purpose: Since 2009 in France, every people practicing sport in competition must have a cardiovascular exam with electrocardiogram, to prevent sudden cardiac death. Sometimes, an echocardiography will be necessary. Little is known about athlete''s heart in the young, particularly in the French people. Patients and methods: One hundred and seven French elite adolescent athletes had an electrocardiogram with echocardiography to establish reference values in this population. Results: QTcorrected (QTc) interval calculated by the Hodges formula, is always in the normal values. Interventricular septal thickness is always≤11mm and left ventricular end diastolic diameter≤55mm in about 90 % of the athletes. Females have QTc interval longer than males and interventricular septal thickness finer. Diastolic function (18.9±2.6cm/s for e’, E/e’ ratio at 5.3±0.8) is “supernormal” and correlate with age and cardiac frequency. Right ventricular systolic function is always good. Conclusion: Adolescent athlete''s heart is normal. If QTc interval is not normal, be afraid of a QT long syndrome. Furthermore, when interventricular septal thickness is>11mm or left ventricular end diastolic diameter>55mm, myocardiopathy will have to be ruled out. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]