Young athletes with ventricular premature beats: Continuing or not intense training and competition?

Introduction Isolated ventricular premature beats (VPBs) are commonly found during pre-participation screening in athletes. Currently the debate about the role of detraining in reducing the number of VPBs is still open. This study evaluated the arrhythmic risk in a population of young competitive athletes who showed VPBs during eligibility evaluation and that did not undergo detraining but continued practicing competitive sports. Methods 3746 consecutive subjects underwent pre-participation screening. Athletes who showed VPBs were selected and underwent second level evaluation (Echocardiogram, 24h Holter ECG and Exercise test). Athletes were re-evaluated after a follow-up period (6-48 months) while they continued practicing competitive sports. Results 5,3% of the whole population showed ventricular arrhythmias. 77% of the subjects showed isolated VPBs. 88% of the subjects showed monomorphic VPBs, 22% of athletes showed polymorphic VPBs. At echocardiogram there was not any pathology which contraindicated competitive sport activity. At 24h Holter ECG recording mean number of daily VPBs was 1592 ± 3217 (range 0-16678). At Holter ECG follow-up (16±12 months) the median number of VPBs decreased from 93 (IQR 20-3065) to a new value of 72 (IQR 2-1299). Conclusion Continuing competitive sport in subjects with ventricular arrhythmias even though frequent but with a low grade of complexity and without structural cardiomyopathy, do not increase sudden death risk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.