Bandar Alosaimi1,1, Isamme AlFayyad2, Salman Alshuaibi3, Ghazwaa Almutairi4, Nawaf Alshaebi5, Abdulaziz Alayyaf6, Wael Alturaiki7, Muhammad Azam Shah8. 1. Research Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, 11525, Saudi Arabia. balosaimi@kfmc.med.sa. 2. Research Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, 11525, Saudi Arabia. 3. College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, 13317, Saudi Arabia. 4. College of pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, 51911, Saudi Arabia. 5. Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia. 6. Faculty of Medicine, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Riyadh, 11942, Saudi Arabia. 7. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah, 11952, Saudi Arabia. 8. Adult Cardiology Department, King Salman Heart Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, 11525, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current evidence still emerging regarding the risk of cardiovascular (CV) sequel associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and considerable replicated studies are needed to ensure safe return-to-play. Therefore, we aimed in this systematic review to measure the prevalence of CV complications suffered by COVID-19 athletic patients, explore the outcomes, optimal approaches to diagnoses, and safe return-to-play considerations. METHODS: A systematic search on post COVID-19 infection quantitative studies among athletes was conducted following MeSH terms in Medline, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Embase and Scopus (through 15 January 2022). We included peer-reviewed studies reported athletes' CV complications and the outcomes post COVID-19 infection. Editorials, letters, commentaries, and clinical guidelines, as well as duplicate studies were excluded. Studies involving non-athletic patients were also excluded. Quality assessment was performed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: We included 15 eligible articles with a total of 6229 athletes, of whom 1023 were elite or professional athletes. The prevalence of myocarditis ranged between 0.4% and 15.4%, pericarditis 0.06% and 2.2%, and pericardial effusion between 0.27% and 58%. Five studies reported elevated troponin levels (0.9-6.9%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a low prevalence of CV complications secondary to COVID-19 infection in short-term follow-up. Early recognition and continuous assessment of cardiac abnormality in competitive athletes are imperative to prevent cardiac complications. Establishing a stepwise evaluation approach is critical with an emphasis on imaging techniques for proper diagnosis and risk assessment for a safe return to play.
BACKGROUND: Current evidence still emerging regarding the risk of cardiovascular (CV) sequel associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and considerable replicated studies are needed to ensure safe return-to-play. Therefore, we aimed in this systematic review to measure the prevalence of CV complications suffered by COVID-19 athletic patients, explore the outcomes, optimal approaches to diagnoses, and safe return-to-play considerations. METHODS: A systematic search on post COVID-19 infection quantitative studies among athletes was conducted following MeSH terms in Medline, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Embase and Scopus (through 15 January 2022). We included peer-reviewed studies reported athletes' CV complications and the outcomes post COVID-19 infection. Editorials, letters, commentaries, and clinical guidelines, as well as duplicate studies were excluded. Studies involving non-athletic patients were also excluded. Quality assessment was performed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: We included 15 eligible articles with a total of 6229 athletes, of whom 1023 were elite or professional athletes. The prevalence of myocarditis ranged between 0.4% and 15.4%, pericarditis 0.06% and 2.2%, and pericardial effusion between 0.27% and 58%. Five studies reported elevated troponin levels (0.9-6.9%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a low prevalence of CV complications secondary to COVID-19 infection in short-term follow-up. Early recognition and continuous assessment of cardiac abnormality in competitive athletes are imperative to prevent cardiac complications. Establishing a stepwise evaluation approach is critical with an emphasis on imaging techniques for proper diagnosis and risk assessment for a safe return to play.
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Authors: Nathaniel Moulson; Bradley J Petek; Jonathan A Drezner; Kimberly G Harmon; Stephanie A Kliethermes; Manesh R Patel; Aaron L Baggish Journal: Circulation Date: 2021-04-17 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Giuseppe Mascia; Fabio Pescetelli; Amedeo Baldari; Piero Gatto; Sara Seitun; Paolo Sartori; Maurizio Pieroni; Leonardo Calò; Roberta Della Bona; Italo Porto Journal: Int J Cardiol Date: 2020-11-23 Impact factor: 4.164