Jean-Claude Chatard1, Florian Espinosa2, Richard Donnadieu3, Jean-Paul Grangeon4, Jean-Marie Sabot3, Christian Guivarch5, Régis Dacquin5, François-Xavier Raby6, Gérard Papouin6, Satu Viali7, Corinne Braunstein8, Antoine Gerbay2, Frédéric Roche9, Karl Isaaz2, Jean-Claude Barthélémy9, François Carré10. 1. Inter-university Laboratory of Human Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine Jacques Lisfranc, University Lyon-Saint-Etienne, 42023 Saint-Etienne, France. Electronic address: chatard@univ-st-etienne.fr. 2. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine Jacques Lisfranc, University Lyon-Saint-Etienne, 42023 Saint-Etienne, France. 3. Sports Medical Centre of Noumea, New Caledonia. 4. Direction of the Health and Social Affairs, Noumea, New Caledonia. 5. Sports Medical Centre of Tahiti, French Polynesia. 6. Department of cardiology, Taone Hospital, Tahiti, French Polynesia. 7. Department of cardiology, Apia Hospital, Samoa. 8. Department of cardiology, Gaston Bourret Hospital, Noumea, New Caledonia. 9. Laboratory of Autonomous Nervous System, Faculty of Medicine Jacques Lisfranc, University Lyon-Saint-Etienne, 42023 Saint-Etienne, France. 10. CHU Pontchaillou, University of Rennes 1, INSERM U1099, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation (PPE) aims to detect cardiac disease with sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk. No study has focused on Pacific Island athletes. METHODS: A total of 2281 Pacific Island athletes were studied with (i) a questionnaire on family, personal history and symptoms, (ii) a physical examination and (iii) a 12-lead ECG. RESULTS: 85% presented a normal history and examination. A positive family history was 1.4-1.9 fold higher in Melanesians, Polynesians and Métis than in Caucasians, while a positive personal history, abnormal symptoms and abnormal examination was 1.3 fold higher in Melanesians and Métis than in others. Neither gender nor training level had a bearing on these results. Melanesians had higher T wave inversions (TWIs) in V2-V4 leads but had no CV abnormalities. Lateral or infero-lateral TWIs were found in 6 male and in 5 highly trained athletes and cardiomyopathies were diagnosed in 3/6 athletes. Overall, 3.9% athletes were found to have a CV abnormality and 0.8% had a risk of SCD. Polynesians and males were more at risk than the others while the level of training made no difference. In athletes at risk of SCD, the main detected CV diseases were cardiomyopathies, Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) and severe valve lesions of rheumatoid origin. CONCLUSIONS: PPE revealed that 3.9% presented CV abnormalities. A risk of SCD was found in 0.8% with cardiomyopathies, WPW, and severe valve lesions of rheumatoid origin. Melanesians, Polynesians and male of high level of training were more at risk than others.
BACKGROUND: Pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation (PPE) aims to detect cardiac disease with sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk. No study has focused on Pacific Island athletes. METHODS: A total of 2281 Pacific Island athletes were studied with (i) a questionnaire on family, personal history and symptoms, (ii) a physical examination and (iii) a 12-lead ECG. RESULTS: 85% presented a normal history and examination. A positive family history was 1.4-1.9 fold higher in Melanesians, Polynesians and Métis than in Caucasians, while a positive personal history, abnormal symptoms and abnormal examination was 1.3 fold higher in Melanesians and Métis than in others. Neither gender nor training level had a bearing on these results. Melanesians had higher T wave inversions (TWIs) in V2-V4 leads but had no CV abnormalities. Lateral or infero-lateral TWIs were found in 6 male and in 5 highly trained athletes and cardiomyopathies were diagnosed in 3/6 athletes. Overall, 3.9% athletes were found to have a CV abnormality and 0.8% had a risk of SCD. Polynesians and males were more at risk than the others while the level of training made no difference. In athletes at risk of SCD, the main detected CV diseases were cardiomyopathies, Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) and severe valve lesions of rheumatoid origin. CONCLUSIONS: PPE revealed that 3.9% presented CV abnormalities. A risk of SCD was found in 0.8% with cardiomyopathies, WPW, and severe valve lesions of rheumatoid origin. Melanesians, Polynesians and male of high level of training were more at risk than others.