Sudden deaths in young competitive athletes: analysis of 1866 deaths in the United States, 1980-2006

GEO combined with quantitative protein trait loci identify causative proteins in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

AIMS

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a rare genetic heart disease characterized by a limited patient population and scarce research and treatment resources. This study aimed to identify HCM-associated proteins by integrating cardiac tissue data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database with the latest protein quantitative trait locus (pQTL) dataset.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analysed data from the GEO database. The GSE36961 dataset included 106 HCM samples and 39 healthy controls. The GSE180313 dataset included 13 HCM samples and 7 healthy controls. pQTL data were obtained from the plasma of 54 000 UK Biobank participants, covering 1463 proteins. HCM genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were sourced from the FinnGen study, which included 1125 HCM cases and 411 056 controls. We analysed the GEO dataset of cardiac tissue from HCM patients to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These DEGs were compared with pQTL data to identify protein phenotypes suitable for Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. A two-sample MR analysis was performed to assess the causal association between these protein phenotypes and HCM. The robustness of the study results was further assessed through sensitivity analysis of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy tests. Two proteins were identified as causally associated with HCM risk: carbonic anhydrase 3 (CA3) [inverse variance weighted (IVW): odds ratio (OR) = 1.292, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.021-1.636, P = 0.033] and serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1) [IVW: OR = 1.313, 95% CI = 1.063-1.621, P = 0.011]. Both proteins were associated with increased HCM risk, with no significant heterogeneity (P > 0.05) or evidence of horizontal pleiotropy (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CA3 and SERPINE1 proteins may exert causal effects on HCM and may serve as characteristic markers and therapeutic targets for this condition.

Survival Outcomes After Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Young Competitive Athletes From the United States

BACKGROUND

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death among young competitive athletes during sports and exercise. A detailed analysis of survival outcomes should inform prevention strategies.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine survival outcomes and trends following SCA among young competitive athletes in the United States and to explore outcomes based on race and exertional status.

METHODS

This observational study identified cases of SCA among young competitive athletes through longitudinal surveillance by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2023. Young athletes ≥11 years of age competing in middle school, high school, club, college, or semiprofessional/professional sports, and former athletes (within 1 year of participation) with SCA during exercise, rest, or sleep were included. The primary outcome was survival from SCA. Multivariable log binomial regression estimated survival proportion ratios by race and exertional status.

RESULTS

A total of 641 athletes with SCA were identified during the 9-year study period (mean age 17 ± 3 years; 85% male). Overall survival was 49% (315 of 641). Survival from SCA occurring during exercise was 57% (275 of 481). The majority of cases were in high school athletes (61%), followed by college (15%) and middle school (12%) athletes. Overall survival (range 30%-66% per academic year; P = 0.007) and survival from exertional SCA (range 38%-72% per academic year; P = 0.03) both increased throughout the study period. Among exertional SCA events, survival was higher among athletes who experienced SCA during a game/competition vs practice/training (70% vs 53%; P = 0.001). Black race (RR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.53-0.76), Other race (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50-0.94), and nonexertional SCA (RR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.32-0.59) were associated with lower survival from SCA after adjusting for sex and level of competition.

CONCLUSIONS

Although survival from SCA among young competitive athletes in the United States has improved in the last decade, important racial disparities in outcomes were observed warranting additional research and prevention strategies.

Metabolic Profiling Reveals Diagnostic Biomarkers for Distinguishing Myocarditis From Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Distinguishing between myocarditis (MC) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the early stages is crucial due to their similar symptoms yet vastly different treatment protocols. This study seeks to utilize metabolomics techniques to differentiate between MC and AMI. Methods: Plasma samples from 15 patients with MC and 12 patients with AMI were collected. Metabolic profiles of plasma from the two groups of patients were obtained using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), identifying metabolites with significant differences. Results: We identified 30 significantly different metabolites in both diseases. In patients with MC, 17 metabolites were upregulated, including 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan and LysoPC (18:2(9Z,12Z)), while 13 metabolites were downregulated, such as 11-cis-retinol, L-glutamate, and hydroxynicotinic acid. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the altered metabolites were enriched in tryptophan metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, and retinol metabolism. Biomarker analysis via receiver-operating characteristic curves highlighted 11-cis-retinol as the predominant biomarker, with an AUC value of 0.917. Conclusions: In conclusion, patients experiencing AMI and MC undergo significant metabolic reprogramming. Metabolites exhibiting abnormal expression in peripheral blood hold diagnostic value for distinguishing between AMI and MC in clinical settings. 11-cis-retinol proved to be the pivotal biomarker for AMI, potentially aiding in the development of a robust predictive model for distinguishing between MC and AMI in clinical settings.

The Cardiovascular Care of the Pediatric Athlete

Sports cardiology broadly encompasses the cardiovascular care of individuals who place a high premium on habitual exercise, sports performance, and/or sports competition. Some of the essential aspects within sports cardiology include the preparticipation cardiac evaluation and the management of cardiac diseases in athletes. Although most sports cardiology practitioners are trained in adult cardiology, a significant number of individuals who participate in sports are pediatric-aged, <18 years old. Up to two-thirds of children in middle and high school participate in organized sports or are involved in nonorganized recreational sports. The cardiovascular care of pediatric-aged athletes can be challenging because many of the classic tenets and principles in adult sports cardiology do not fully generalize to pediatrics, and there is a lack of the evidence base that may be present for adult athletes. The epidemiology, presentation, and progression of cardiovascular diseases can be significantly different between pediatric and adult athletes. The evaluation of potential diseases and management considerations may also differ between pediatric and adult athletes. Similar to adults, there are "gray zones" where it is difficult to differentiate between normal exercise-induced cardiac remodeling and true cardiac pathology, but the additional lack of normative standards further complicates assessments in pediatric athletes. Management decisions for pediatric athletes are generally based on limited data but carry substantial short- and long-term implications. Thus, shared decision-making as part of the determination of clinical management strategies and for sports participation is critical and requires the participation of the parents or guardian(s). In this state-of-the-art review, key differences between pediatric and adult-aged athletes are highlighted. Specifically, how to define the "pediatric athlete," consider cardiovascular adaptations observed among pediatric athletes, determine preparticipation screening options and optimal symptom-driven evaluations in children, and consider best practices for pediatric athletes with several key cardiac conditions are detailed. The purpose of this document is to represent the first primary reference available to providers who care for pediatric athletes with cardiovascular concerns.

Modified physiological equivalent temperature for monitoring heat stress: 20-year data from the Falmouth Road Race

Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a commonly used tool for monitoring heat stress in outdoor endurance races. The Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) have been proposed as alternatives to overcome WBGT's limitations, but PET also has shortcomings and needs improvement for effective use as a screening tool. The aim is to identify the best predictor for Exertional Heat Illness (EHI) and Exertional Heat Stroke (EHS) in outdoor races. Based on a 20-year dataset from the Falmouth Road Race, generalized linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between the incident rate and the predictors, and model performance was evaluated by leave-one-out cross-validation. The modified version of PET, mPET, had the highest explanation for EHI rate at 59%, with WBGT at 45.7%. UTCI and PET had the lowest explanatory power, 21% and 17.9% respectively. For EHS, WBGT had the highest explanatory power at 58.1%, and mPET followed with 49.1%. In cross-validation for EHI, the predicted values of mPET strongly correlated with the actual values (cor = 0.767, p < 0.05). In cross-validation for EHS, the predicted values of WBGT significantly correlated with the actual values (cor = 0.604, p < 0.05). Overall, mPET is a superior predictor for EHI rate compared with PET, WBGT and UTCI, but for EHS rate, further research is needed to identify the best predictor.

AI-based detection and classification of anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries using coronary CT angiography images

Anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare cardiac condition that can lead to ischemia or sudden cardiac death, yet it is often overlooked or falsely classified in routine coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Here, we developed, validated, externally tested, and clinically evaluated a fully automated artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool for detecting and classifying AAOCA in 3D-CCTA images. The discriminatory performance of the different models achieved an AUC ≥ 0.99, with sensitivity and specificity ranging 0.95-0.99 across all internal and external testing datasets. Here, we present an AI-based model that enables fully automated and accurate detection and classification of AAOCA, with the potential for seamless integration into clinical workflows. The tool can deliver real-time alerts for potentially high-risk AAOCA anatomies, while also enabling the analysis of large 3D-CCTA cohorts. This will support a deeper understanding of the risks associated with this rare condition and contribute to improving its future management.

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Apparently Healthy, Young Adults

Importance

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence in apparently healthy adults younger than 40 years ranges from 4 to 14 per 100 000 person-years worldwide. Of an estimated 350 000 to 450 000 total annual out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the US, approximately 10% survive.

Observations

Among young adults who have had cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, approximately 60% die before reaching a hospital (presumed sudden cardiac death), approximately 40% survive to hospitalization (resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest), and 9% to 16% survive to hospital discharge (sudden cardiac arrest survivor), of whom approximately 90% have a good neurological status (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2). Autopsy-based studies demonstrate that 55% to 69% of young adults with presumed sudden cardiac death have underlying cardiac causes, including sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (normal heart by autopsy, most common in athletes) and structural heart disease such as coronary artery disease. Among young adults, noncardiac causes of cardiac arrest outside of a hospital may include drug overdose, pulmonary embolism, subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizure, anaphylaxis, and infection. More than half of young adults with presumed sudden cardiac death had identifiable cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. Genetic cardiac disease such as long QT syndrome or dilated cardiomyopathy may be found in 2% to 22% of young adult survivors of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, which is a lower yield than for nonsurvivors (13%-34%) with autopsy-confirmed sudden cardiac death. Persons resuscitated from sudden cardiac arrest should undergo evaluation with a basic metabolic profile and serum troponin; urine toxicology test; electrocardiogram; chest x-ray; head-to-pelvis computed tomography; and bedside ultrasound to assess for pericardial tamponade, aortic dissection, or hemorrhage. Underlying reversible causes, such as ST elevation myocardial infarction, coronary anomaly, and illicit drug or medication overdose (including QT-prolonging medicines) should be treated. If an initial evaluation does not reveal the cause of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, transthoracic echocardiography should be performed to screen for structural heart disease (eg, unsuspected cardiomyopathy) or valvular disease (eg, mitral valve prolapse) that can precipitate sudden cardiac death. Defibrillator implant is indicated for young adult sudden cardiac arrest survivors with nonreversible cardiac causes including structural heart disease and arrhythmia syndromes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Cardiac arrest in apparently healthy adults younger than 40 years may be due to inherited or acquired cardiac disease or noncardiac causes. Among young adults who have had cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, only 9% to 16% survive to hospital discharge. Sudden cardiac arrest survivors require comprehensive evaluation for underlying causes of cardiac arrest and cardiac defibrillator should be implanted in those with nonreversible cardiac causes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Echocardiography in the cardiac assessment of young athletes: a 2025 guideline from the British Society of Echocardiography (endorsed by Cardiac Risk in the Young)

Sudden cardiac death in a young physically active individual or athlete is a rare but tragic event. Pre-participation screening and follow-up investigations are utilised to reduce the risk and occurrence of these events. Echocardiography plays a key role in the cardiac diagnostic pathway and aims to identify underlying inherited or congenital structural cardiac conditions. In 2013 the British Society of Echocardiography and Cardiac Risk in the Young produced a joint guidance document to support echocardiographers in this setting. The document was subsequently updated in 2018, and it is now timely to provide a further update to the guideline drawing on the advances in our knowledge alongside the developments in ultrasound technology within this nuanced area of sports cardiology.

Quadriostial Origin of the Coronary Arteries: A Case Report

A 75-year-old male, with a history of hypertension and peripheral vascular disease, presented to the cardiac catheterization lab for an elective coronary angiogram after an abnormal cardiac stress test. The coronary angiogram results showed a total of four separate coronary artery ostia. Within the right coronary cusp, there were two separate ostia as opposed to a single ostia that supplies the right coronary artery (RCA). The additional ostia gave rise to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Further, as opposed to the single ostia in the left coronary cusp, there were two separate ostia creating a left circumflex (LCX) and marginal artery. Despite this anomalous anatomy, the patient was asymptomatic and instructed to continue to follow up with outpatient cardiology. Our case report discusses this unique quadriostial coronary anatomy, the complications that can arise from anomalous coronary arteries, diagnoses, and management of such cases.

Heritability of sudden cardiac death in Thoroughbred racehorses

BACKGROUND

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important cause of exercise-associated fatalities in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine deaths share similarities with fatalities in human athletes that result from inherited cardiac disease. Whilst genetic causes have been postulated in horses, these have not been confirmed and heritability of SCD has not previously been estimated in Thoroughbred racehorses.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the heritability of SCD in a sample population of Thoroughbred racehorses.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case-control study.

METHODS

Steward and post-mortem reports of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia between 2007 and 2020 were reviewed to identify horses with SCD. Control horses were randomly selected from races in which SCD occurred or from races on the date of the case fatality. A five-generation integrated pedigree chart was collected for each horse. Estimates of heritability were obtained using an animal model in the ASReml-R program with variance components estimated assuming SCD was normally distributed, and on the logit transformed scale. Inbreeding coefficients were calculated and the risk of producing SCD-affected progeny was calculated for stallions that sired ≥5 individuals in the case-control population.

RESULTS

Ninety-three horses with SCD and 465 control horses were identified. Heritability on the underlying scale was 0.15 ± 0.09 (logit animal) and 0.24 ± 0.12 (normal animal). Inbreeding coefficients were not significantly different between groups. Of the 16 first generation sires that appeared ≥5 times in the case-control data set, two sires more frequently produced affected progeny (OR 7.95-10.41).

MAIN LIMITATIONS

Challenges in definitively confirming SCD may lead to misclassification of some cases. Some control horses may have not been exposed to environmental influences of SCD. Case numbers are low and the studied population may not represent the entire Thoroughbred genetic pool.

CONCLUSION

The heritability of SCD in this population was relatively low. However, individual stallions appear more likely to produce affected progeny. Further studies are required to understand the genetic and environmental influences that contribute to disease expression.

Catheterization Techniques for Anomalous Aortic Origin of Coronary Arteries

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare congenital anomaly with a large spectrum of anatomical variations. Selective engagement of an AAOCA can present challenges during cardiac catheterization. A comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of major AAOCA can effectively assist operators for selecting and maneuvering catheters. This review outlines the recommended catheter manipulations based on the site of ectopic coronary origin. Identifying the initial course (prepulmonic, subpulmonic, interarterial or retroaortic course) is crucial for classifying each AAOCA. Besides invasive coronary angiography, coronary computed tomography angiography is frequently utilized to enhance the diagnostic assessment. Cardiac catheterization enables the use of intracoronary imaging and physiologic tools for accurately assessing the significance of AAOCA identified as at risk, mainly the anomalies associated with an interarterial course. Intravascular ultrasound is recognized as the gold standard for analyzing AAOCA with interarterial course. Optical tomography coherence imaging can be interesting to evaluate the rare AAOCA with a subpulmonic course, which are associated with ischemic symptoms or myocardial ischemia. Invasive physiological indices using pressure wires can be employed, with the caveat that their threshold values remain uncertain. Decision-making can be challenging for patients with AAOCA. Both non-invasive and invasive imaging tools are essential to support the final choice.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: State of the Art

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiomyopathy. Patients with HCM who are treated according to modern guidelines can reasonably be expected to have normal longevity and good quality of life. Nevertheless, effort intolerance, heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death can occur in some patients. Comprehensive and longitudinal assessment with echocardiography, ambulatory electrocardiography, stress testing, and in some cases cardiac magnetic resonance imaging helps guide therapy. Symptomatic patients can be treated with medications including a new class, cardiac myosin inhibitors, developed specifically to treat the cellular pathophysiologic mechanism of HCM. For patients whose symptoms do not respond to medical therapy or in whom medical therapy is not desired, invasive options to relieve symptoms, when performed at expert centers, have robust data for successful outcomes. The goal of management is to encourage and help patients with HCM lead an active, healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise similar to activity recommendations for the general public.

Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillators in Young Patients: Arrhythmias, Complications, and Physical Activity

BACKGROUND

The safety of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) recipients who lead active lifestyles and engage in recreational sports is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between lifestyle and recreational sports and the occurrence of arrhythmia- and device-related complications, appropriate and inappropriate shocks in S-ICD recipients.

METHODS

We assessed a cohort of young-adult (15-65 years) S-ICD patients, evaluated their physical activity with IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), and assessed the association between lifestyle and recreational sports on S-ICD safety and shocks.

RESULTS

We enrolled 602 S-ICD recipients (77% men; age, 46±14 years). According to the IPAQ, patients were categorized as inactive subjects (26.4%), moderately active subjects (45.2%), or highly active subjects (28.4%). Among moderately/highly active subjects, 163 (27.1%) were recreational athletes. During follow-up (47.3 [interquartile range, 27.0-67.6] months), 23 patients (3.8%) reached the safety end point of arrhythmia- or device-related complications, with moderately and highly active subjects showing in multivariate analysis similar incidence compared with inactive subjects (P=0.59 and P=0.83, respectively). Forty-four patients had 87 appropriate shocks. In multivariate analysis, moderately and highly active subjects showed a nonsignificantly lower incidence of appropriate shocks compared with inactive subjects (P=0.12 and P=0.11, respectively). Consistently, there was a nonsignificant lower incidence of appropriate shocks in athletes versus nonathletes (P=0.06). Thirty-nine patients had 46 inappropriate shocks. Moderately and highly active subjects had similar incidence of inappropriate shocks compared with inactive subjects (P=0.92 and P=0.88, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Young S-ICD patients often lead active lifestyles and participate in sports. Higher activity levels were not associated with increased implantable cardioverter defibrillator-related complications or increased risk of implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks.

Anomalous Origin of the Left Main Coronary Artery from the Right Coronary Sinus

An elderly gentleman in his 60s presented with angina on exertion and dyspnea on exertion (NYHA class 3). On evaluation, he was found to have significant obstructive triple vessel disease. He also had an anomalous origin of the left main from the right coronary sinus with a long and tortuous left main coronary artery, which was seen to be running anterior to the pulmonary artery. He was treated with coronary artery bypass grafting with three grafts and re-implantation of the left main coronary artery to the left coronary sinus and was discharged with no postoperative complaints. This case report highlights a unique presentation of coronary artery anomaly in an elderly patient and underscores the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention.

Sex Differences in the Incidence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest/Death in Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although many studies have demonstrated a lower incidence of sudden cardiac arrest or death (SCA/D) in female athletes than in male, there is limited understanding of the specific underlying causes.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to assess the disparities in SCA/D incidence between male and female competitive athletes and explore the associated etiologies.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted for retrospective and prospective studies examining SCA/D incidence in male and female athletes. Incidence and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) according to sex were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among the 16 studies analyzed, 1797 cases of SCA/D were observed; 1578 occurred in males (87.81%). Ages ranged from adolescent to adult. The incidence was 1.42/100,000 athlete-years (AY) in males (95% CI 0.97-2.09), and 0.32/100,000 AY in females (95% CI 0.17-0.59), resulting in an IRR of 5.55. When considering athletes aged ≤ 35 years, the incidence was 1.46/100,000 AY in males (95% CI 0.91-2.34) and 0.30/100,000 AY in females (95% CI 0.14-0.66), with an IRR of 5.47. The IRR was 5.13 (95% CI 3.94-6.67) for the most recent studies with athletes enrolled only after the year 2000, versus 6.02 (95% CI 4.59-7.90) for the remaining studies covering all observed years. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was the predominant cause among males (45.12%), while congenital coronary anomalies were more prevalent in females (33.04%).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of SCA/D in females was approximately 6 times lower than in males, with sex differences also in the leading causes of SCA/D. Understanding these discrepancies could lead to targeted strategies for the prevention of SCD in athletes.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

(PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023432022)/05.07.2023.

Are the Cardiovascular Benefits and Potential Risks of Physical Activity and Exercise Dependent on Race, Ethnicity, or Sex?

Physical activity (PA) is established as a cornerstone of cardiovascular health, however, disparities in participation exist across sociocultural groups, which in turn affect cardiovascular outcomes. Evidence suggests that although the positive cardiovascular effects of exercise are consistent across populations, notable differences in the magnitude of these benefits exist for racial and ethnic minorities and the female sex. Women derive greater protection from PA compared with men, with reduced rates of sudden cardiac death. In this review we examine the complex interplay of race and/or ethnicity and sex on the cardiovascular benefits associated with PA and exercise, cardiovascular adaptations to exercise, risks of sudden cardiac death, and "excessive" volume of exercise. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions to promote cardiovascular health and offset disparities.

Electrocardiogram screening for school children: a cross-sectional, population-based study

BACKGROUND

Identification of life-threatening arrhythmogenic disorders, which may present during infancy, childhood, or later stages, enables the early initiation of effective preventive therapies. Electrocardiogram (ECG) screening may detect conditions that elevate risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) at an early stage.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to assess the prevalence, clinical significance, and characteristics of ECG abnormalities in a large population of schoolchildren. It also aims to determine whether ECGs performed during childhood can aid in the early detection of conditions associated with the risk of SCD.

DESIGN

Population-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A multicenter study conducted at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh and Prince Sultan Cardiac Center-Qassim (PSCC-Q), Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

The study analyzed 12-lead ECGs performed on elementary school students 6-15 years old in Buraidah, Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. ECGs were recorded and interpreted following international standards. Children with abnormal ECG results were referred for full pediatric cardiology evaluation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence of normal and abnormal ECG findings, including long QT intervals.

SAMPLE SIZE

14 403 students.

RESULTS

During the study period, ECGs were performed on 14 403 students (53.8% females). The mean age was 9.5±1.9 years, and the mean weight was 32.1±16.1 kg. Abnormal ECGs were identified in 468 students (3.3%), 271 of whom had complete clinical evaluation, including repeat ECG and echocardiography. The most common ECG abnormality was a prolonged QTc interval. The overall prevalence of abnormal ECG findings ranged from 0.7% to 2.04%, with long QTc intervals (460 msec or more) found in 0.4% to 1.6% of students.

CONCLUSIONS

Long QTc intervals (460 msec or more) were the most common ECG abnormality in school children, with an estimated prevalence of 0.4% to 1.6%. This study may serve as a model for large-scale, community-based, 12-lead ECG screening programs for children.

LIMITATIONS

Causality cannot be derived given the design, the potential for false positive and false-negative results, and the lack of genetic studies for children with prolonged QT intervals.

Utility of MRI and CT in Sports Cardiology

Sports cardiologists specialize in the care of competitive athletes and highly active people by detecting and managing cardiovascular diseases that can impact sports participation and counseling on return to sports after cardiovascular events. Preparticipation evaluation of athletes includes history, physical examination, and electrocardiography (ECG), with exercise ECG added when screening master athletes. If the findings are abnormal or inconclusive, echocardiography is used for further evaluation. Further imaging with MRI, CT, or stress test is performed for establishing a diagnosis when echocardiography is indeterminate or discordant with clinical features and for risk stratification if echocardiography provides a definitive diagnosis. MRI can help distinguish athlete's heart from similar-appearing pathologic entities when echocardiography is inconclusive. Athlete's heart can manifest as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left ventricle (LV) dilatation, prominent LV trabeculations, and right ventricular (RV) dilatation. Adaptive LVH in athletes is concentric and typically measures less than 16 mm, which distinguishes it from pathologic LV thickening of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, valvular disease, and infiltrative cardiomyopathies. Adaptive LV dilatation with normal or mildly reduced ejection fraction can be seen in endurance athletes. LV ejection fraction greater than 40%, augmentation of LV ejection fraction with exercise, and normal or supranormal diastolic function distinguishes it from dilated cardiomyopathy. Physiologic RV dilatation in athletes is distinguished from arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (RV type) by global involvement and absence of major regional wall motion abnormalities or late gadolinium enhancement. MRI is also useful in diagnosis and risk stratification of athletes with cardiovascular symptoms and after major cardiovascular events such as arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and resuscitated sudden cardiac death or arrest. CT angiography provides accurate evaluation of coronary artery anomalies and coronary artery disease. ©RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article.

Juvenile sudden cardiac death due to congenital coronary ostial valve-like ridges: A case report and literature review

Coronary artery anomalies are a heterogeneous group of congenital disorders affecting the coronary pattern with a characteristic (origin, number, number of hosts, course, etc.). They are rarely found in the population. We report the case of a 21-year-old male who died from sudden cardiac death caused by an isolated coronary ostial obstruction, secondary to a rare anomaly, the presence of a valve-like ridge consisting of a small fold in the Valsalva aortic sinus. The study provides a brief literature review on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and clinical and medico-legal issues in coronary artery anomaly cases that may be helpful in forensic practice when dealing with sudden cardiac death in young people and highlights key points for further research and public health measures.

Vigorous exercise and sports participation in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Historically, individuals with HCM have been restricted from vigorous competitive sports due to concerns for risk of sudden death. More recently, prospective data are emerging that individuals with HCM who participate in vigorous sports do not have increased arrhythmic risk compared to the less active, and series of athletes with HCM continuing to compete, while small, have not shown high risk. Guidelines are evolving, and while differences exist, all now recommend an individualized approach and shared decision-making for athletes with HCM wishing to return to play.

Retro-Aortic Anomalous Coronary Artery (RAC) Sign in a Sexagenarian

Anomalous coronary arteries are congenital anomalies characterized by an abnormal location of the coronary ostium and/or an atypical vascular course. While most cases are asymptomatic and remain undiagnosed, certain variants can be clinically significant, causing symptoms or even sudden cardiac death. A retro-aortic course of the coronary artery is generally considered to be benign, though rare instances have been reported to cause myocardial ischemia. This course can be detected on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) as a retro-aortic anomalous coronary artery (RAC) sign. The RAC sign is strongly associated with the detection of a retro-aortic coronary anomaly on cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans. Given its high specificity, its identification on TTE can be reliably documented as highly suggestive of an anomalous coronary artery in echocardiography reports. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman presenting with nocturnal syncope. TTE reported a tubular echogenic density in the atrioventricular (AV) groove. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) showed an anomalous left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) arising from the right coronary cusp taking a retro-aortic course to the left AV groove. There were no high-risk anatomical features of the anomalous LCx or any significant coronary artery stenosis. Holter monitor revealed sinus pauses of up to nine seconds, correlating with her symptoms. She was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome and a permanent pacemaker was implanted. She remained asymptomatic thereafter. The TTE finding, labeled as the RAC sign, correlated well with the anomalous LCx on the CCTA. The anomalous LCx was noted to be incidental and likely benign.

Sudden cardiac death in athletes: A 20-year analysis in Portugal

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes is a tragic event, with some evidence remaining controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate cases of SCD in athletes in Portugal within the last 20 years.

METHODS

An advanced Google search using a combination of several keywords and systematic searches on websites of national newspapers/television stations was conducted. Additionally, 54 Portuguese sports federations and the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth were contacted by email and/or phone. All sports-related SCD cases in competitive athletes, occurring between 2003 and 2023 in Portugal, were included. The total number of athletes at risk used for the calculation of SCD incidence, was collected from official national records.

RESULTS

A total of 42 SCD cases in athletes were identified, with a median age of 27 [18;42] years, and the great majority were male (n=39; 93%). Most events occurred in outdoor sports (n=28; 67%), especially in football (n=13; 31%), athletics (n=4; 10%) and trail running (n=4; 10%), and during competition or training sessions (n=27; 64%). The higher number of cases were reported in 2021 and 2022, while in several years no occurrences were found. The yearly average SCD incidence was 0.39 cases per 100000 athletes/year.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of SCD in athletes in Portugal is very low, mainly occurring in male, outdoor sports and during competitions or training sessions. Due to the limitations of passive data collection, prospective registries are needed, with standardization of the most relevant data, especially regarding their etiology and circumstances.

Sports behaviour and adherence to sports and exercise recommendations in patients with myocarditis

Aim

In the clinical setting of acute myocarditis, existing guidelines recommend refraining from moderate-intensity to high-intensity sports for 3-6 months, yet the extent to which these recommendations are implemented by clinicians and followed by patients remains unclear.

Methods

From January 2020 to December 2023, consecutive patients with myocarditis according to European Society of Cardiology criteria were prospectively enrolled. Myocarditis was categorised into acute, subacute and non-acute myocarditis. Patients completed a sports questionnaire and sports behaviour was categorised into no sports (NSP), recreational (REC) or competitive sports (COMP).

Results

A total of 165 patients with myocarditis (mean age 50±17 years, 35% women) completed the questionnaire. Overall 73 (44%) patients received sports counselling. A total of 44 (72%) patients engaged in sports (REC+COMP) with acute or subacute myocarditis, received sports counselling with 38 (87%) adhering. Overall COMP patients (all male) received more counselling (11/11; 100%) compared with REC (53/105; 50%) and NSP (9/49; 18%). Of 39 women in the REC group, 14 (36%) received recommendations, whereas of 66 men 39 (59%) received recommendations (p<0.001). Of all patients engaged in sports, 55% received recommendations. Self-reported adherence to recommendations was significantly lower in COMP (73%) compared with REC (92%, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Although only half of the myocarditis patients received counselling regarding sports activity, adherence to these recommendations was generally high but varied by activity level. Women received fewer recommendations overall compared with men. While competitive athletes were counselled more frequently than recreational athletes, they were less likely to adhere to the recommendations.

Differences in Arrhythmia Detection Between Harvard Step Test and Maximal Exercise Testing in a Paediatric Sports Population

BACKGROUND

Sport practice may elevate the risk of cardiovascular events, including sudden cardiac death, in athletes with undiagnosed heart conditions. In Italy, pre-participation screening includes a resting ECG and either the Harvard Step Test (HST) or maximal exercise testing (MET), but the relative efficacy of the latter two tests for detecting arrhythmias and heart conditions remains unclear.

METHODS

This study examined 511 paediatric athletes (8-18 years, 76.3% male) without known cardiovascular, renal, or endocrine diseases. All athletes underwent both HST and MET within 30 days. Absolute data and data relative to theoretical peak heart rates, arrhythmias (supraventricular and ventricular) and cardiovascular diagnoses were collected.

RESULTS

HST resulted in a lower peak heart rate than MET (181.1 ± 9.8 vs. 187.5 ± 8.1 bpm, p < 0.001), but led to the detection of more supraventricular (18.6% vs. 13.1%, p < 0.001) and ventricular (30.5% vs. 22.7%, p < 0.001) arrhythmias, clustering during recovery (p = 0.014). This pattern was significant in males but not females. Among athletes diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases (22.3%), HST identified more ventricular arrhythmias (26.3% vs. 18.4%, p = 0.05), recovery-phase arrhythmias (20.2% vs. 14.0%, p = 0.035), and polymorphic arrhythmias (6.1% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

HST detects arrhythmias more effectively than MET in young male athletes, especially during recovery. More ventricular arrhythmias were highlighted even in athletes with cardiovascular conditions.

A 10-year retrospective analysis of sudden unexpected death in the young investigated at Salt River Mortuary, Cape Town

Sudden unexpected death in the young (SUDY) is defined as the rapid, unsuspected demise of an apparently healthy individual between the ages of one and 40 years. There is a gap in research pertaining to this population in a South African context. This retrospective study aimed to explore the burden, scope of post-mortem investigation, and risk factors of SUDY admissions to Salt River Mortuary (SRM) in Cape Town between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Medico-legal case files pertaining to SUDY cases from SRM were reviewed. SRM received a total of 34 601 admissions in the 10-year period; of which 1 997 (5.77%) were SUDY cases. Nearly two-thirds (62.59%) of the SUDY admissions were male. The leading cause of death was pneumonia (17.11%), and the most prevalent organ system implicated in cause of death was the pulmonary system (45.19%). At least 32.46% of SUDY cases were infectious-related, with varying degrees of confidence. A large proportion of cases had no history of acute or chronic illness (45.43%), and no family history of illness (56.66%). In total, 52 potential candidates were identified for a molecular autopsy, of which 47 have stored biological samples for future investigations. This study advocates for the routine performance of post-mortem ancillary microbiological and toxicological testing in cases of SUD, considering the large burden of infectious disease and substance abuse in South Africa. The retention of biological samples in undetermined or non-specific natural cases is also urged, to allow for cause of death determination on a molecular level.

Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse Revisited: A Not Uncommon Cause of Youthful Sudden Death in Athletes and Women

BACKGROUND

Sudden deaths (SDs) in young people, including competitive athletes, albeit uncommon, are usually attributable to genetic, congenital or acquired cardiovascular conditions. However, it is under-appreciated that mitral valve prolapse (MVP), a relatively common valvular heart disease, is associated with SD in this youthful population.

METHODS

Forty-three MVP-related SDs were identified from 2 large cardiovascular registries with pathologic, clinical, and demographic findings reported.

RESULTS

Events occurred in both sexes, but females were unexpectedly common (49%); median age was 22 ± 8 years, and 29 (67%) were engaged in competitive sports, including 17 with preparticipation examination. Of the 43 MVP cases, 21 died suddenly during or just after vigorous exercise, including 6 during organized sports. Sixteen (37%) had been evaluated by a cardiologist, resulting in confirmed MVP diagnosis in 11. Pathologic findings characteristic of MVP included bileaflet myxomatous involvement (in all cases) and areas of interstitial or replacement myocardial fibrosis (in 79%), most evident in posterolateral left ventricular wall.

CONCLUSIONS

Arrhythmogenic myxomatous degeneration (MVP) is an under-recognized cause of SD in young people, including competitive athletes, disproportionally affecting females and requires a high index of clinical suspicion. Frequency of left ventricular fibrosis in these young people with MVP suggests a mechanism for ventricular tachyarrhythmias and SD, relevant to future risk stratification.

Characteristics and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among students under school supervision in Japan: a descriptive epidemiological study (2008-2021)

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurring under school supervision is lacking. We aimed to comprehensively describe the characteristics and outcomes of OHCA among students in elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and technical colleges in Japan.

METHODS

OHCA data from 2008-2021 were obtained from the SPIRITS study, which provides a nationwide database of OHCAs occurring under school supervision across Japan. We included cases in which resuscitation was attempted by emergency medical service personnel or bystanders. The cases were classified into three groups based on their etiology: cardiac, non-cardiac, and traumatic origin. The primary outcome was one-month survival with favorable neurological outcomes, defined as a Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category of 1 or 2. The demographic characteristics, event details, and outcomes were compared across the three groups by using χ2 tests for categorical variables and one-way analyses of variance for continuous variables.

RESULTS

During the 14-year study period, 602 OHCA cases were confirmed, with 430 (71.4%) classified as cardiac, 91 (15.1%) as non-cardiac, and 81 (13.5%) as traumatic origin. Non-cardiac and traumatic cases were less likely to be witnessed at the time of arrest (46.2% and 42.0%, respectively) than cardiac cases (82.6%; p < 0.001). Initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by bystanders was less common in non-cardiac and traumatic cases (62.6% and 42.0%, respectively) than that in cardiac cases (82.8%; p < 0.001). The delivery of defibrillation using public-access automated external defibrillators was also significantly less frequent in non-cardiac (3.3%) and traumatic cases (6.2%) than that in cardiac cases (59.8%; p < 0.001). Ventricular fibrillation (VF) as the first documented rhythm was observed in 77.9% of cardiac cases but was much less common in non-cardiac (5.5%) and traumatic cases (8.6%; p < 0.001). One-month survival with favorable neurological outcomes was significantly lower in non-cardiac (6.6%) and traumatic cases (0%) than that in cardiac cases (50.2%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

OHCAs of cardiac origin were more frequently associated with VF and had relatively good prognoses. In contrast, OHCAs of non-cardiac and traumatic origins consistently resulted in poor outcomes, highlighting the critical importance of prevention strategies to reduce the occurrence of these incidents.

Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery: Results from a Single Surgical Team in Spain

OBJECTIVES

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery is a rare congenital lesion in which a coronary artery arises from an anomalous location within the aorta. Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery has been associated with myocardial ischemia and it is considered the second most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes. When surgical repair is indicated, surgical unroofing is the most commonly employed technique. Our objective is to describe the outcomes of our surgically treated patients.

METHODS

We present a series of 16 adult patients who underwent surgical repair of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery. Patients were treated in three different institutions by the same surgeon. Surgical unroofing of the anomalous coronary artery was the surgical technique chosen in the majority of the patients. Follow-up was performed.

RESULTS

Unroofing of an intramural anomalous coronary artery was the procedure performed in 11 patients. Three patients underwent neo-ostium creation; one patient underwent a David procedure with coronary reimplantation; and one patient was treated with coronary bypass grafting due to severe coronary atheromatous lesions. There were no perioperative deaths, and no major postoperative complications. Follow-up period was 73.8 months, the survival rate was 100%, and there were neither ischemia or heart failure reports.

CONCLUSIONS

The surgical repair of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery by coronary unroofing or neo-ostium creation has demonstrated excellent early and late outcomes. Late survival was excellent. The follow-up period revealed no significant morbidity or complications.

High takeoff of the right coronary artery by echocardiography: normal variant or something more?

PURPOSE

High takeoff of the right coronary artery suspected by echocardiography is widely considered a normal variant. However, in our experience, some patients initially thought to have a high takeoff of the coronary artery were later found to have an anomalous coronary origin with high-risk features. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that high takeoff of the right coronary artery suspected by echocardiography may indicate the presence of an anomalous coronary artery lesion with an intramural course requiring further investigation.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of patients evaluated at the University of Florida Congenital Heart Center from January 2010 through September 2015. Charts of all 62 patients who were noted to have an anomalous coronary artery or concern for an anomalous coronary artery were reviewed to identify those who were initially identified as having simply a high takeoff of the right coronary artery by initial echocardiogram. A total of 24 patients met these criteria.

RESULTS

Out of 24 patients identified as having high takeoff of the right coronary artery on their initial echocardiogram, 20 had confirmatory computerized tomographic angiography. On review of these patients, 9 had a right coronary origin from the left. This included 3 patients with an anomalous right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus and 6 with an anomalous right coronary artery origin just above the left coronary sinus. Six of these 9 patients had an intramural course. The remaining patients had high takeoff above the right coronary sinus or normal coronary origins.Additionally, on review of all patients with computerized tomographic angiographic confirmation of high takeoff of the coronary artery, those with high takeoff above the left coronary sinus were more likely to have an intramural course (6 out of 9). Meanwhile, none of the 6 patients with high takeoff above the right coronary sinus confirmed by computerized tomographic angiography had an intramural course.

CONCLUSION

Accurate identification of the coronary origin and course of the anomalous coronary artery is difficult by echocardiogram. Correct diagnosis of origin and course is important for appropriate risk stratification and treatment decisions. Therefore, patients with high takeoff of the right coronary artery suspected by echocardiography should undergo additional evaluation to assess for the presence of a potentially malignant course.

Imaging of common coronary artery anomalies and imaging features important for clinical decision-making

Anomalous coronary arteries are associated with sudden cardiac death, although only in a relatively small percentage. Although this has been a field of study for years and there are many ongoing studies of larger patient cohorts and longer term follow-up, important questions remain at present in clinical decision-making, particularly whether or not to have surgery. Advanced imaging techniques including coronary computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) play an important role in the workup of patients with known or suspected anomalies including delineating origin and course as well as defining presence of high-risk imaging features. Multidisciplinary decision-making is important when considering whether patients might need to undergo surgery. This review will describe types of anomalies, imaging techniques, and features as well as types of surgeries and postoperative imaging with highlights of imaging and surgical literature and several case examples.

Management of acute myocarditis: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations

The management of acute myocarditis (AM) is addressed in multiple clinical guidelines. We systematically reviewed current guidelines developed by national and international medical organizations on the management of AM to aid clinical practice. Publications in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane were identified between 1 January 2013 and 12 April 2024. Additionally, the websites of relevant organizations and the Guidelines International Network, Guideline Central, and NHS knowledge and library hub were reviewed. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, two reviewers assessed the rigour of guideline development, and one reviewer extracted the recommendations. Two of the three guidelines identified showed good rigour of development. Those rigorously developed agreed on the definition of AM, sampling serum troponin as part of the workflow for AM, testing for B-type natriuretic peptides in heart failure, key diagnostic imaging in the form of cardiovascular magnetic resonance, coronary angiography to exclude significant coronary disease, indications for endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), and indications for immunosuppression and advanced treatment options. Discrepancies exist in sampling creatine kinase-myocardial bound as a marker of myocardial injury, indications for EMB, and indications for immunosuppression and treatment of uncomplicated AM. Evidence is lacking for the use of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for myocardial imaging, exercise restriction, follow-up measures, and genetic testing, and there are few high-quality randomized trials to support treatment recommendations. Recommendations for management of AM in the guidelines have largely been developed from expert opinion rather than trial data.

Physical cardiac rehabilitation effects on cardio-metabolic outcomes in the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to review existing evidence to evaluate the effects of physical cardiac rehabilitation on cardio-pulmonary outcomes in the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The initial search led to 1222 citations after removing duplicate results. We included only English-written studies published since 2013 (2013-2023). Ultimately, we retrieved five studies, involving 235 participants. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized trials (RoB2) and risk of bias in non-randomized studies of intervention (ROBINS-I) for evaluating the risk of bias in randomized and non-randomized studies, respectively.

RESULTS

Results showed that four training programs improved participants' functional capacity by up to 46%. Improvements in weight, BMI, echocardiography, and remodeling parameters (left atrium volume index, premature ventricular contraction burden, pulmonary artery systolic pressure), exercise test results (minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production, peak workload, heart rate reserve, exercise duration, peak heart rate, peak systolic pressure, and blood pressure response to exercise normalization), and a decrease in N- Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-pro BNP) were reported in these studies. No major adverse events, including sustained tachyarrhythmia, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharge, and sudden cardiac death were reported.

CONCLUSION

Supervised exercise training is safe and helpful for patients diagnosed with HCM. It can improve exercise capacity and is considered an adjunctive therapeutic option.

Different patterns of pre-excitation in a large Italian cohort of asymptomatic non-competitive athletes evaluated by telecardiology screening: Prevalence and ECG features

Background

Telecardiology has proven to be a useful and cost-effective tool for ECG screening in several contexts, allowing the evaluation of large cohorts of subjects in a short time, even for non-competitive athletes (NCA).

Aim of the study

To evaluate and detail the prevalence of the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome in a large Italian cohort of young NCA.

Methods

In a 4-year period 216,424 consecutive NCA (118,851 males; 55%) underwent preparticipation ECG screening through a Telecardiology System. ECGs were recorded and sent by a network of 'spoke' centers located all over Italy; a 'hub' center, located in Genoa, received and reported back on ECGs, digitally stored and analyzed. Only asymptomatic NCA were included in the study.

Results

Out of 216,424 NCA 88 (mean age: 14 ± 8) presented a WPW pre-excitation at ECG analysis (55 males, 62.5 %); the prevalence of WPW pre-excitation in this population was 4.1 per 10,000 NCA. No significant sex-related differences were found. The highest incidence (29 WPW patterns) was observed in the 10-15 year group with an equal sex ratio (M/F:16/13).Intermittent pre-excitation was found in 8 NCAs. The most frequent accessory pathway locations were right antero-septal (25.0%), mid-septal (21.6%) and postero-septal (13.6%).

Conclusions

In a large population of young NCA the prevalence of ECG pre-excitation at telemedicine remote screening was 4.1 per 10,000; intermittent pre-excitation was found in 9% of NCA with ECG pre-excitation.

Is Anyone Ready to Save a Life? An Examination of Cardiac Emergency Preparedness in Schools

BACKGROUND

This study explored the cardiac emergency preparedness of school employees in Illinois, as well as their attitudes toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training.

METHODS

One thousand two hundred seventy-six school employees completed an online survey regarding their school's cardiac emergency preparedness, as well as their access to CPR/AED training, confidence and willingness to perform CPR/AED, and attitudes toward CPR policies and mandates.

RESULTS

In total, results from 1273 school employees were analyzed. School employees in Illinois are not prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency, but desire training, plans, and drills. Demographic analyses revealed statistically significant differences in cardiac emergency preparedness between individuals of different personal and school characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

School employees in Illinois are not prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency. To increase preparedness for cardiac emergencies at school, schools should implement CPR/AED training for all employees, cardiac emergency response plans, and cardiac emergency response drills.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY

Policies should be implemented at the state and local level to support cardiac emergency preparedness in schools, including mandated CPR/AED training for all school employees, cardiac emergency response plans for every building, and required cardiac emergency response drills.

Effects of Inlet Geometry on Perfusion and Ischemia in Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Right Coronary Artery (AAORCA)

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) comprises a set of rare congenital abnormalities in the origin or path of the coronary arteries with highly variable clinical implications. This is a pilot feasibility study where we investigated the influence of the anomalous coronary artery inlet architecture on coronary perfusion using coronary blood flow computational simulations to help predict the risk for coronary ischemia in patients with anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery (AAORCA) with these types of anomalous coronary artery inlet architectures. We developed a protocol for generating 3D models of patient coronary artery anatomies from an IRB-approved dataset of cardiac CT images of patients with AAORCA at our institution. Coronary blood flow simulations and analysis were performed. Instantaneous flow reserve (iFR), a parameter used clinically in coronary CT analysis to determine risk for ischemia, was compared between models as a measure of ischemia. Comparing the median iFR of the coronary outlets between the four inlet variants and baseline architecture showed important differences. We observed a possible association between the proportion of the semi-minor axis and the semi-major axis of the elliptical AAORCA inlet and iFR. These observations suggest that the elliptical axis quotient may be a significant risk factor for evaluation of AAORCA severity.

Heart Breaking Differences: A Narrative Review of Sex and Gender Disparities in Sports-Related Sudden Cardiac Death

PURPOSE

Sports-related sudden cardiac death (srSCD) represents a rare yet significant occurrence. This review aims to explore the epidemiology, etiology, and prevention of srSCD, with a particular focus on the influence of sex and gender. It seeks to analyze existing literature to elucidate the impact of biological variables, societal factors, and preventive measures in understanding and addressing srSCD among athletes.

METHODS

A narrative review approach was utilized to synthesize relevant literature on srSCD, using a validated PubMed Search tool for sex and gender-related factors. The review focused on primary data investigating sex differences that may contribute to srSCD, as well as pertinent review articles.

FINDINGS

The review highlights the complexity of defining and studying srSCD, with challenges stemming from varied reporting methods and lack of standardized definitions. Disparities in incidence rates between male and female athletes are evident, with males exhibiting a disproportionately higher risk. Biological factors, including cardiac adaptations to exercise and sex hormone influences, contribute to these sex-specific differences in srSCD rates. While screening programs, particularly utilizing electrocardiograms, show promise in identifying at-risk individuals, debates persist regarding their implementation and efficacy. Furthermore, legislative gaps in mandating the availability of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in public settings underscore the need for unified advocacy efforts to improve access to life-saving interventions.

IMPLICATIONS

Understanding the multifaceted nature of srSCD, including its biological underpinnings and societal implications, is crucial for developing effective preventive strategies. Sex-specific screening programs tailored to the unique risk profiles of male and female athletes, as well as legislative initiatives promoting AED placement and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, are essential components of comprehensive srSCD prevention efforts. By addressing disparities and implementing evidence-based interventions, this paper advocates for a holistic approach to mitigate the risk of srSCD and enhance the safety and well-being of athletes across all levels of competition.

Management Status of Myocarditis-Related Sudden Cardiac Death

Myocarditis, a life-threatening disease that can result in cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death, has garnered significant attention in recent years. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the management of myocarditis-related sudden cardiac death, encompassing its pathology, diagnostic methods, therapeutic strategies, preventive measures, prognostic factors, and risk stratification. Additionally, the review highlights current challenges and future directions in this field. The aim is to enhance understanding of myocarditis-related sudden cardiac death and inform clinical practice, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.

Three Novel Pathogenic Variants in Unrelated Vietnamese Patients with Cardiomyopathy

Background: Cardiomyopathy, including dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), is a major cause of heart failure (HF) and a leading indication for heart transplantation. Of these patients, 20-50% have a genetic cause, so understanding the genetic basis of cardiomyopathy will provide knowledge about the pathogenesis of the disease for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and genetic counseling for families. Methods: This study collected nine patients from different Vietnamese families for genetic analysis at The Cardiovascular Center, E Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. The patients were diagnosed with cardiomyopathy based on clinical symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed in the Vietnamese patients to identify variants associated with cardiomyopathy, and the Sanger sequencing method was used to validate the variants in the patients' families. The influence of the variants was predicted using in silico analysis tools. Results: Nine heterozygous variants were detected as a cause of disease in the patients, three of which were novel variants, including c.284C>G, p.Pro95Arg in the MYL2 gene, c.2356A>G, p.Thr786Ala in the MYH7 gene, and c.1223T>A, p.Leu408Gln in the DES gene. Two other variants were pathogenic variants (c.602T>C, p.Ile201Thr in the MYH7 gene and c.1391G>C, p.Gly464Ala in the PTPN11 gene), and four were variants of uncertain significance in the ACTA2, ANK2, MYOZ2, and PRKAG2 genes. The results of the in silico prediction software showed that the identified variants were pathogenic and responsible for the patients' DCM. Conclusions: Our results contribute to the understanding of cardiomyopathy pathogenesis and provide a basis for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and genetic counseling.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with or without left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is a common primary myocardial disease, with a prevalence of 1:500. It is characterized by thickening of the myocardium. Its diagnostic evaluation includes history-taking and physical examination, genetic studies, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiac MRI. When optimally treated, it carries a mortality of less than 1% per year.

METHODS

This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective literature search, including the current guidelines.

RESULTS

In symptomatic patients with high LVOT gradients (≥ 50 mm Hg), the treatment of first choice is pharmacotherapy with nonvasodilating beta-blockers or non-dihydropyridine-type calcium channel antagonists. Common side effects include bradycardia and hypotension, and there is a risk of AV nodal blockade. Both substance classes lower the LVOT gradient. Beta-blockers alleviate dyspnea and improve patients' quality of life. Verapamil can increase physical resilience. A further option is mavacamten, a myosin inhibitor that gained approval in Germany in mid-2023: it, too, lowers the LVOT gradient and improves quality of life. In 7-10% of patients, there is a reversible reduction of the left ventricular ejection fraction to less than 50%. Septal reduction treatments can be considered if drug therapy fails. Attention must also be paid to the management of sequelae such as atrial fibrillation, malignant arrhythmias, and mitral valve insufficiency.

CONCLUSION

Patients with HCM have a near-normal life expectancy if the disease is diagnosed early and treated according to the guidelines. The treatment of HCM and HOCM (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy) have been studied in no more than a few clinical trials, and randomized studies with clinical endpoints are needed.

Surgical outcomes in adolescents and adults with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery

Background

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischemia and sudden cardiac death. This study aims to evaluate the medium-term outcomes of surgical repair for AAOCA and to introduce a novel off-pump technique for anomalous coronary artery reimplantation.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 12 patients aged 12 years and older who underwent AAOCA surgery at Fuwai Hospital between 2009 and 2016.

Results

The median age at surgery was 26 years (range, 13-57 years). Patients with an anomalous left coronary artery from the right sinus (ALCA-R) were significantly younger than those with an anomalous right coronary artery from the left sinus (ARCA-L) (P < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 13 years (range, 8-15years), 11 patients had widely patent repaired coronary arteries, with the exception of one patient (case 5) who experienced occlusion of the left internal mammary artery graft 1 year post-CABG. The incidence of postoperative cardiac-type symptoms (angina, syncope or dyspnea) was higher in ALCA-R patients compared to ARCA-L patients. Patch angioplasty using a pulmonary artery patch and RCA reimplantation without cardiopulmonary bypass yielded satisfactory medium-term outcomes.

Conclusions

Compared with ARCA-L, the incidence of postoperative cardiac-type symptoms was higher in ALCA-R patients. Properly selected surgical procedures can lead to successful outcomes in patients with AAOCA. Patch angioplasty with a pulmonary artery patch and RCA reimplantation without cardiopulmonary bypass are viable and effective surgical options. CABG may not be the preferred surgical approach for AAOCA.

The Role of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Studying Cardiac Channelopathies

Cardiac channelopathies are inherited diseases that increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. While different genes have been associated with inherited channelopathies, there are still subtypes, e.g., catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and Brugada syndrome, where the genetic cause remains unknown. Various models, including animal models, heterologous expression systems, and the human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSCs-CMs) model, have been used to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of channelopathies. Recently, researchers have focused on using hiPSCs-CMs to understand the genotype-phenotype correlation and screen drugs. By combining innovative techniques such as Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated genome editing, and three-dimensional (3D) engineered heart tissues, we can gain new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of channelopathies. This approach holds promise for improving personalized drug treatment. This review highlights the role of hiPSCs-CMs in understanding the pathomechanism of Brugada syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and how these models can be utilized for drug screening.

Successful Management of Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest in a Patient With Undiagnosed Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Intraoperative cardiac arrest presents a significant challenge in surgical settings, particularly in patients with undiagnosed cardiac conditions. This report details the case of a 62-year-old male patient who experienced cardiac arrest during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, attributed to previously undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The patient exhibited no prior cardiac symptoms and was assessed as low risk preoperatively. Following prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved after approximately 10 minutes. Post-resuscitation, echocardiography confirmed significant left ventricular hypertrophy, leading to a new diagnosis of HCM. This case emphasizes the necessity of thorough cardiovascular evaluation in high-risk surgical patients and outlines effective management strategies for intraoperative emergencies.

Molecular biomarkers of blunt cardiac injury: recent advances and future perspectives

INTRODUCTION

Blunt cardiac injury (BCI), associated with high morbidity and mortality, involves multiple injuries. With no widely accepted gold standard diagnostic test and molecular biomarkers still in debate and far from application in clinical practice, exploring specific molecular biomarkers of BCI is of great significance. The clarification of molecular biomarkers can improve the diagnosis of BCI, leading to more precise care for victims in various situations.

AREAS COVERED

Using the search term 'Biomarker AND Blunt cardiac injury,' we carefully reviewed related papers from June 2004 to June 2024 in PubMed and CNKI. After reviewing, we included 20 papers, summarizing the biomarkers reported in previous studies, and then reviewed molecular biomarkers such as troponins, Nterminal proBtype natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP), hearttype fatty acid binding protein (hFABP), and lactate for BCI diagnosis. Finally, valuable views on future research directions for diagnostic biomarkers of BCI were presented.

EXPERT OPINION

Several advanced technologies have been introduced into clinical medicine, which have ultimately changed the research on cardiac diseases in recent years. Some biomarkers have been identified and utilized for BCI diagnosis. Herein, we summarize the latest relevant information as a reference for clinical practice and future studies.

American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Cardiac Screening Questions in Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Forms

To evaluate the utilization of the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) cardiovascular screening questions within preparticipation physical evaluation forms from the 50 state high school athletic associations. We found that fewer than one-half of state forms incorporated all 10 AAP questions; moreover, a subset failed to adhere to criteria recommended by either the AAP or American Heart Association.

Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening of Athletes: Current Controversies and Challenges for the Future

Sports cardiology is an evolving field in cardiology, with several topics remaining controversial. Beyond the several well-known benefits of regular exercise practice, the occurrence of adverse clinical events during sports in apparently healthy individuals, especially sudden cardiac death, and the described long-term adverse cardiac adaptations associated to high volume of exercise, remain challenging. The early identification of athletes with increased risk is critical, but the most appropriate preparticipation screening protocols are also debatable and a more personalized evaluation, considering individual and sports-related characteristics, will potentially optimize this evaluation. As the risk of major clinical events during sports is not zero, independently of previous evaluation, ensuring the capacity for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially with availability of automated external defibrillators, in sports arenas, is crucial for its prevention and to improve outcomes. As in other areas of medicine, application of new digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, is promising and could improve in near future several aspects of sports cardiology. This paper aims to review the methodology of athletes' preparticipation screening, emphasizing current controversies and future challenges, in order to improve early diagnosis of conditions associated with sudden cardiac death.

The global, regional, and national burden of myocarditis in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2021: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

AIMS

To estimate the global burden of myocarditis in the general population from 1990 to 2021.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data on myocarditis were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), along with their age-standardized rates (ASRs) per 100 000 population, were used to measure the burden of myocarditis. Global, regional, and national analyses were performed for the period between 1990 and 2021. Further sub-analyses were conducted based on age group, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). In 2021, there were 1.3 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 1.1 to 1.6) incident cases, 31.7 thousand (95% UI: 25.5 to 37.1) deaths, and 96.3 thousand (95% UI: 79.6 to 114.8) DALY cases globally. The ASRs of incidence, death, and DALYs significantly decreased from 1990 to 2021, with percentage changes of -3.9% (95% UI: -4.7% to -2.9%), -28.2% (95% UI: -42.2% to -12.5%), and -37.8% (95% UI: -50.5% to -24.3%), respectively. The global burden of myocarditis was higher in males, children, and the elderly. Additionally, the burden of myocarditis varied widely across different SDI regions, with high SDI regions having the highest ASR of incidence, and high-middle SDI regions having the highest ASRs of deaths and DALYs.

CONCLUSION

Although the ASRs of incidence, deaths, and DALYs significantly decreased from 1990 to 2021, the global number of incidences, deaths, and DALYs increased substantially. Certain populations, including males, children, the elderly, and regions with advanced sociodemographic levels, experienced a heavier burden of myocarditis.

Genetics of Exertional Heat Illness: Revealing New Associations and Expanding Heterogeneity

Environmental heat stress represents a pervasive threat to warfighters, athletes, and occupational workers, impacting performance and increasing the risk of injury. Exertional heat illness (EHI) is a spectrum of clinical disorders of increasing severity. While frequently predictable, EHI can occur unexpectedly and may be followed by long-term comorbidities, including cardiovascular dysfunction and exercise intolerance. The objective of this study was to assess genetic factors contributing to EHI. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in a cohort of 53 cases diagnosed with EHI. Rare variants in prioritized gene sets were analyzed and classified per published guidelines. Clinically significant pathogenic and potentially pathogenic variants were identified in 30.2% of the study cohort. Variants were found in 14 genes, including the previously known RYR1 and ACADVL genes and 12 other genes (CAPN3, MYH7, PFKM, RYR2, TRPM4, and genes for mitochondrial disorders) reported here for the first time in EHI. Supporting structural and functional studies of the TRPM4 p.Arg905Trp variant show that it impairs the thermal sensitivity of the TRPM4 channel, revealing a potentially new molecular mechanism contributing to EHI susceptibility. Our study demonstrates associations between EHI and genes implicated in muscle disorders, cardiomyopathies, thermoregulation, and oxidative phosphorylation deficiencies. These results expand the genetic heterogeneity of EHI and shed light on its molecular pathogenesis.