Sports Activity and Arrhythmic Risk in Cardiomyopathies and Channelopathies: A Critical Review of European Guidelines on Sports Cardiology in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases
Giovanni Volpato,
Umberto Falanga,
Laura Cipolletta,
Manuel Antonio Conti,
Gino Grifoni,
Giuseppe Ciliberti,
Alessia Urbinati,
Alessandro Barbarossa,
Giulia Stronati,
Marco Fogante,
Marco Bergonti,
Valentina Catto,
Federico Guerra,
Andrea Giovagnoni,
Antonio Dello Russo,
Michela Casella,
Paolo Compagnucci
Affiliations
Giovanni Volpato
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Umberto Falanga
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Laura Cipolletta
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Manuel Antonio Conti
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Gino Grifoni
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Giuseppe Ciliberti
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Alessia Urbinati
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Alessandro Barbarossa
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Giulia Stronati
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Marco Fogante
Department of Radiology, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Marco Bergonti
Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy
Valentina Catto
Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, 20100 Milan, Italy
Federico Guerra
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Andrea Giovagnoni
Department of Radiology, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Antonio Dello Russo
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Michela Casella
Department of Clinical, Special and Dental Sciences, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Paolo Compagnucci
Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Cardiology and Arrhythmology Clinic, University Hospital “Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I-Lancisi-Salesi”, Marche Polytechnic University, 60100 Ancona, Italy
The prediction and prevention of sudden cardiac death is the philosopher’s stone of clinical cardiac electrophysiology. Sports can act as triggers of fatal arrhythmias and therefore it is essential to promptly frame the athlete at risk and to carefully evaluate the suitability for both competitive and recreational sports activity. A history of syncope or palpitations, the presence of premature ventricular complexes or more complex arrhythmias, a reduced left ventricular systolic function, or the presence of known or familiar heart disease should prompt a thorough evaluation with second level examinations. In this regard, cardiac magnetic resonance and electrophysiological study play important roles in the diagnostic work-up. The role of genetics is increasing both in cardiomyopathies and in channelopathies, and a careful evaluation must be focused on genotype positive/phenotype negative subjects. In addition to being a trigger for fatal arrhythmias in certain cardiomyopathies, sports also play a role in the progression of the disease itself, especially in the case arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In this paper, we review the latest European guidelines on sport cardiology in patients with cardiovascular diseases, focusing on arrhythmic risk stratification and the management of cardiomyopathies and channelopathies.
