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Cardiovascular diseases in Paralympic athletes
Antonio Pelliccia1, Filippo M Quattrini1, Maria Rosaria Squeo1
1Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, Rome, Italy.
British Journal of Sports Medicine
|May 28, 2016
Summary
Paralympic athletes show a high prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities, including conditions posing a risk for sudden death. This highlights the need for tailored screening and safe sport participation guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
- Disability Sport
Background:
- Competitive sport participation is increasing among individuals with impairments.
- Limited data exists on cardiovascular risks associated with this group.
- Paralympic athletes (PA) represent a growing population with diverse conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities in Paralympic athletes.
- To evaluate the cardiovascular risk associated with competitive sport participation in PAs.
Main Methods:
- 267 PAs (76% male, age 35±9) across 18 sports with various impairments (spinal cord injury, amputation, cerebral palsy, visual impairment) were studied.
- Cardiovascular evaluation included medical history, physical exam, ECG, and echocardiography.
- A subset of 105 athletes with 6±4 year follow-up data was analyzed.
Main Results:
- 12% of PAs (33 athletes) had structural cardiovascular abnormalities (e.g., cardiomyopathies, aortic dilation, valvular disease, hypertension).
- 9 athletes presented with tachyarrhythmias.
- Over 6 years, 6% of athletes developed new cardiovascular diseases, including dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertension.
Conclusions:
- Paralympic athletes exhibit a higher-than-expected prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities (12%).
- A significant proportion (2%) have conditions associated with sudden death risk.
- Tailored preparticipation screening and guidance for safe sport participation are crucial for this population.
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