Six young patients resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation between 1980 and 1989

Bortolo Martini
2020 European Heart Journal  
In any case of myocarditis, a strict ban on sport for a period of at least 3-6 months is recommended based on animal data suggesting a virulence-promoting effect of exercise. 29,30 Following the abovementioned recommendations, [24][25][26][27] return to training and competition appears to be reasonable if left ventricular function and cardiac dimensions have returned to normal, if clinically relevant arrhythmias are absent in Holter ECG monitoring and exercise test, and if serum markers of
more » ... mmation and heart failure have normalized. In symptomatic COVID-19-positive athletes with no diagnostic evidence of myocarditis, following sport restriction for at least 2-4 weeks, a thorough medical examination (physical examination, resting and exercise ECG, and echocardiography) should be performed before resuming sports activities. Return to sport will be possible in the absence of abnormal results. It is known that the prognosis of athletes with uncomplicated acute myocarditis and with a complete recovery, including normalized left ventricular function and absence of late gadolinium enhancement, is highly favourable. 31,32 Still, in athletes recovering from COVID-19, even without pre-existing diseases, the development of cardiovascular complications and long-term consequences, e.g. arrhythmias, must be taken into consideration and should be ruled out by means of a careful follow-up. In the near future, data about treatment and monitoring of athletes recovering from COVID-19 will be of major importance. Above all, specifically against the background of the wide spectrum of COVID-19 disease manifestations, the questions of eligibility for sport and long-term consequences of COVID-19 for athletes should be addressed.
doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa669 pmid:33349866 fatcat:27n3ur6ktzcjxarwgbbtlzxri4