Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts
Background: The presence of T-wave abnormalities (TWA) on an athlete's electrocardiogram (ECG) presents as a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Types of TWA patterns classified as abnormal by inexperienced readers have not been systematically analyzed. Methods: ECGs from the 2011–2015 Nationa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-05-01
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| Series: | American Heart Journal Plus |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666602222000702 |
| _version_ | 1828262395585232896 |
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| author | Asad J. Torabi Omar D. Nahhas Reginald E. Dunn Matthew W. Martinez Andrew M. Tucker Andrew E. Lincoln Richard J. Kovacs Michael S. Emery |
| author_facet | Asad J. Torabi Omar D. Nahhas Reginald E. Dunn Matthew W. Martinez Andrew M. Tucker Andrew E. Lincoln Richard J. Kovacs Michael S. Emery |
| author_sort | Asad J. Torabi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The presence of T-wave abnormalities (TWA) on an athlete's electrocardiogram (ECG) presents as a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Types of TWA patterns classified as abnormal by inexperienced readers have not been systematically analyzed. Methods: ECGs from the 2011–2015 National Football League Scouting Combine (initially interpreted by general cardiologists) were retrospectively reviewed by expert sports cardiologists with strict application of the 2017 International Criteria. Patterns of TWA that were altered from the original interpretation were analyzed. Results: The study included 1643 athletes (mean age 22 years). There was a 67 % reduction in the number of athletes with any TWA (p < 0.001) with 111 ECGs changed to normal. Inferior TWA was the most common interpreted initial ECG abnormality altered followed by anterior and lateral. Discussion: This analysis revealed an initial high rate of TWA by non-expert readers. Tailored education programs to physicians who interpret athlete ECGs should highlight these specific T-wave patterns. We see this as an opportunity to make more clinicians aware of ECG interpretation guidelines as sports trained cardiologists are mostly self-taught. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:53:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b50f2026dd7a4830a9f6d97bff00d770 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-6022 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:53:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | American Heart Journal Plus |
| spelling | doaj.art-b50f2026dd7a4830a9f6d97bff00d7702022-12-22T03:03:42ZengElsevierAmerican Heart Journal Plus2666-60222022-05-0117100153Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-expertsAsad J. Torabi0Omar D. Nahhas1Reginald E. Dunn2Matthew W. Martinez3Andrew M. Tucker4Andrew E. Lincoln5Richard J. Kovacs6Michael S. Emery7Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USAAdvocate Aurora Health Cardiology, Milwaukee, WI, USAMedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, Baltimore, MD, USAAtlantic Health – Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ, USAMedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, Baltimore, MD, USAMedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USAKrannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USASports Cardiology Center, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Clinical Cardiology, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk J2-4, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.Background: The presence of T-wave abnormalities (TWA) on an athlete's electrocardiogram (ECG) presents as a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Types of TWA patterns classified as abnormal by inexperienced readers have not been systematically analyzed. Methods: ECGs from the 2011–2015 National Football League Scouting Combine (initially interpreted by general cardiologists) were retrospectively reviewed by expert sports cardiologists with strict application of the 2017 International Criteria. Patterns of TWA that were altered from the original interpretation were analyzed. Results: The study included 1643 athletes (mean age 22 years). There was a 67 % reduction in the number of athletes with any TWA (p < 0.001) with 111 ECGs changed to normal. Inferior TWA was the most common interpreted initial ECG abnormality altered followed by anterior and lateral. Discussion: This analysis revealed an initial high rate of TWA by non-expert readers. Tailored education programs to physicians who interpret athlete ECGs should highlight these specific T-wave patterns. We see this as an opportunity to make more clinicians aware of ECG interpretation guidelines as sports trained cardiologists are mostly self-taught.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666602222000702AthletesSportsAmerican style footballElectrocardiogram |
| spellingShingle | Asad J. Torabi Omar D. Nahhas Reginald E. Dunn Matthew W. Martinez Andrew M. Tucker Andrew E. Lincoln Richard J. Kovacs Michael S. Emery Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts American Heart Journal Plus Athletes Sports American style football Electrocardiogram |
| title | Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts |
| title_full | Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts |
| title_fullStr | Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts |
| title_short | Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts |
| title_sort | athlete ecg t wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non experts |
| topic | Athletes Sports American style football Electrocardiogram |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666602222000702 |
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