Normal computerized Q wave measurements in healthy young athletes

Area of Science:

• Sports Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Expert consensus statements aim to reduce false positives in athlete ECG screening.
• Traditional ECG patterns lack consideration of computerized measurements.
• Current guidelines may not accurately reflect Q wave variations in young athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• Define normal Q wave measurement limits in healthy young athletes using digital ECGs.
• Establish data-driven criteria for identifying abnormal Q waves in athletes.
• Compare computerized criteria with existing guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Screened 2073 athletes, categorized by sex and participation level (high school, college, professional).
• Electronically captured and analyzed ECGs, recording Q wave amplitude, area, and duration.
• Utilized ANOVA for parameter comparison and developed Stanford Computerized Criteria (99th percentile for Q wave area).

Main Results:

• Identified significant sex and participation level differences in Q wave amplitude, duration, and area.
• Applying Stanford Computerized Criteria and Seattle criteria identified distinct groups of athletes with abnormal Q waves.
• Demonstrated variability in Q wave measurements among different athlete subgroups.

Conclusions:

• Computerized ECG analysis is crucial for accurate athlete screening.
• Future research requires larger, diverse cohorts and robust endpoints for ECG analysis.
• Data-driven criteria are essential for refining athlete ECG interpretation and reducing false positives.