Athletic Heart Syndrome

Basics

Description

- Outpatient evaluation - Distinguish normal physiologic changes from disease - Many cardiac diseases increase the risk of athletic activity: - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - Coronary artery anomalies or disease - Marfan syndrome - Aortic valve disease - Complex congenital heart disease - Pulmonary HTN - Mitral stenosis - Pulmonic stenosis

Sustained exercise training induces adaptive changes in the cardiovascular system that allow for greater athletic performance. The major adaptations involve the heart, blood, and peripheral vascular system.
Heart:Cardiac hypertrophy that is eccentric with predominant isotonic exercise and concentric with predominant isometric exerciseResting sinus bradycardia
Blood:Total blood volume increases due to proportional increases in red cells and plasma.
Peripheral vascular system:Peripheral vascular capacitance increases, resulting in relative decreases in peripheral vascular resistance, allowing movement of a greater stroke volume without increases in systolic pressure.
Systems affected:CardiovascularHematopoietic

Epidemiology

Predominant age: Late adolescence to middle aged
Predominant Sex: Male > Female
Age-related factors:Pediatric: Congenital heart disease predominatesMiddle-aged: Coronary artery disease dominates

Incidence

Sudden death in athletes is rare.

Prevalence

Heart disease in accomplished athletes is unusual.

Risk Factors

Underlying heart disease.

Genetics

Adaptations to exercise and athletic ability may be partially determined by heredity.
Inherited heart disease more common in younger athletes.

General Prevention

Exercise training does not eliminate heart disease. Risk-factor control is still necessary to avoid coronary artery disease.
Physical fitness improves survival in heart disease.

Pathophysiology

The ability to increase cardiac output largely determines exercise ability.
LV hypertrophy is expected and often other cardiac chambers enlarge.
Vagal nerve tone increases such that resting bradycardia is common.

Etiology

Regular, vigorous exercise training.

Associated Conditions

Cardiac hypertrophy
Resting bradycardia
Increased skeletal muscle mass

Diagnosis

History

History of athletic training and prowess
Orthostatic symptoms

Physical Exam

Athletic physique
Sinus bradycardia
Sinus arrhythmia
Enlarged apical impulse
RV lift
Diastolic gallop sounds
Systolic flow murmurs

Tests

Lab

EKG: Ventricular hypertrophy patterns (may mimic MI), bradyarrhythmias
Exercise: Maximum oxygen uptake will identify exercise-trained individuals.

Imaging

CXR: Cardiac enlargement
Echo: Distinguish physiologic vs. pathologic ventricular hypertrophy; identify valvular disease, cardiomyopathy and congenital heart disease.

Surgery

If coronary artery disease is suspected, exercise testing with echo or radionuclide imaging may be indicated, or in some cases coronary angiography.
Electrophysiologic testing may be required to distinguish pathologic rhythm disturbances from benign ones.
Tilt table testing may help elucidate the cause of dizziness or syncope encountered in an athlete.

Pathological Findings

Ventricular hypertrophy

Differential Diagnosis

Abnormal bradyarrhythmias
Pathologic ventricular hypertrophy
Valvular heart disease
Cardiomyopathy
Coronary artery disease

Treatment

Medication

Depends on specific underlying heart disease if any
Significant possible interactions and adverse reactions:Refer to manufacturer's literature.Some performance-enhancing drugs have potential adverse effects on the heart, such as anabolic steroids and catecholamines.
Contraindications:Refer to manufacturer's profile of each drug.
Precautions:Athletically trained individuals are especially susceptible to drugs with vasodilator or heart rate-slowing properties such as Î± and β-blockers.

Additional Treatment

General Measures

Outpatient evaluation
Distinguish normal physiologic changes from disease
Many cardiac diseases increase the risk of athletic activity:Hypertrophic cardiomyopathyCoronary artery anomalies or diseaseMarfan syndromeAortic valve diseaseComplex congenital heart diseasePulmonary HTNMitral stenosisPulmonic stenosis

Issues for Referral

Suspected cardiac disease in an athlete

Additional Therapies

Occasionally athletic training will need to be stopped temporarily until a specific disease is treated with drugs that affect a response in the patient.
Mega-dose vitamins
Creatine

Surgery

Corrective surgery for cardiac conditions may permit athletic activity.

In-Patient Considerations

Initial-Stabilization

Treat cardiac arrhythmias

Admission Criteria

Cardiac arrest
Heart failure
Severe chest pain
Syncope

IV Fluids

Use with electrolyte replacement to treat dehydration

Nursing

Continuous ECG monitoring

Discharge Criteria

Absence of arrhythmias
Primary disease identified and steps taken to stabilize and positively correct

Ongoing Care

Follow-Up Recommendations

Depends on the cardiac condition

Patient Monitoring

Occasionally the only way to distinguish normal physiology from disease is to cease exercise training and observe the patient. Sinus bradycardia and chamber enlargement usually regress significantly within weeks.

Diet

Depends on cardiac conditions and training requirements.

Patient Education

Important to describe risks of cardiac disease if patient desires participation in athletic activities.

Prognosis

Exercise-trained individuals are usually healthier and live longer than sedentary individuals in the absence of significant cardiovascular disease.
The combination of athletic activities and certain cardiovascular diseases can shorten life.

Complications

Aortic dissection
Precipitation of heart failure
Sudden arrhythmic death
Syncope

Additional Reading

1Corrado D, Basso C, Pavei A. Trends in sudden cardiovascular death in young competitive athletes after implementation of a preparticipation screening program. JAMA. 2006;296:1593-1601. [View Abstract]2Maron BJ, Zipes DP. 36th Bethesda conference: Eligibility recommendations for competitive athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45:1312-1375.3Maron BJ, Haas TS, Doerer JJ. Comparison of U.S. and Italian experiences with sudden cardiac deaths in young competitive athletes and implications for preparticipation screening strategies. Am J Cardiol. 2009;104:276-280. [View Abstract]4Maron BJ, Doerer JJ, Haas TS. Sudden deaths in young competitive athletes: Analysis of 1866 deaths in the United States, 1980-2006. Circulation. 2009;119:1085-1092. [View Abstract]5Pelliccia A, Di Paolo FM, Quattrini FM. Outcomes in athletes with marked ECG repolarization abnormalities. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:152-161. [View Abstract]6H Maron BJ. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other causes of sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes, with considerations for preparticipation screening and criteria for disqualification. Cardiol Clin. 2007;25:399-414.

Codes

ICD9

429.3 Cardiomegaly

SNOMED

233931008 athlete's heart (disorder)

Clinical Pearls

Physiologic adaptations to exercise training can mimic cardiac disease.
Cardiac hypertrophy and resting bradycardia are the hallmarks of athletic training.
Underlying heart disease can lead to symptoms or sudden death.
Screening young athletes for heart disease can save lives, but may lead to a recommendation to cease athletic activities.