Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings of Nigerian athletes. A Lagos Study

ABSTRACT

Summary In a prospective study spanning over 6 months involving one hundred and nineteen male and female subjects comprising 98 Nigerian athletes and 55 age and sex matched controls all had electrocardiography and echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular dimensions and systolic function. Athletes were found to have significant prevalence of bradycardia when compared to the non-athletes. (P=0.03). In addition a greater percentage of the athletes had T wave invertion in the anterior leads (V1-V3) and electrocardiographic features consistent with left ventricular hypertrophy; and first-degree heart block. Athletes were also found to have significantly larger left ventricular end diastolic dimension (p0.01); increased left ventricular posterior wall thickness (p0.01); greater left ventricular mass (p0.01) and left ventricular mass index (p0.01) than the control group. These parameters were found to be significantly higher in each gender category as well. Power trained athletes were found to have greater relative left ventricular wall thickening when compared to the endurance trained athletes. Left ventricular systolic functions of both categories of athletes were found to be within normal limits and better than the control group. None of the athlete had echocardiographic features suggestive of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy