Sports Cardiology Flashcards

Pre-Participation Screening

Q: What screening is recommended for all athletes before participation? A: History + physical examination (14-element AHA screening) Tags: sports, screening, high-yield

Q: Is routine ECG screening recommended for all young athletes in the US? A: No - AHA recommends H+P only; ECG may be considered based on resources Tags: sports, ecg, screening

Q: What percentage of young athlete sudden cardiac deaths have warning symptoms? A: Only ~20% have prodromal symptoms Tags: sports, scd, statistics

Q: What are the most common causes of SCD in young athletes? A: HCM (most common overall), coronary anomalies (AAOCA), arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy Tags: sports, scd, causes, high-yield

History Red Flags

Q: What symptoms in an athlete's history warrant cardiac evaluation? A: Exertional syncope, chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea out of proportion, family history SCD <50 Tags: sports, red-flags, history, high-yield

Q: What family history warrants further evaluation before sports clearance? A: SCD in first-degree relative <50 years, known HCM/LQTS/Marfan in family Tags: sports, family-history

Q: Does vasovagal syncope during exercise require evaluation? A: Yes - exertional syncope is always concerning; post-exertional vasovagal may be benign Tags: sports, syncope, high-yield

Physical Exam Red Flags

Q: What physical findings warrant further cardiac evaluation in athletes? A: Murmur that increases with Valsalva, irregular rhythm, BP discrepancy, Marfanoid features Tags: sports, exam, red-flags

Q: How can you differentiate innocent from pathologic murmurs during PPE? A: Innocent: decreases with Valsalva/standing; HCM murmur: increases with Valsalva/standing Tags: sports, murmur, high-yield

ECG Interpretation

Q: What ECG findings in athletes are considered normal variants? A: Sinus bradycardia, early repolarization, isolated voltage criteria for LVH, incomplete RBBB Tags: sports, ecg, normal

Q: What ECG findings require further evaluation? A: T-wave inversions, pathologic Q waves, ST depression, prolonged QTc, epsilon waves, ventricular pre-excitation Tags: sports, ecg, abnormal, high-yield

Q: What QTc warrants further evaluation? A: >470 ms males, >480 ms females Tags: sports, ecg, qtc

Specific Conditions

Q: Can athletes with LQTS participate in competitive sports? A: 2025 guidelines: Shared decision-making allowed after risk counseling, beta-blocker therapy, AED access Tags: sports, lqts, high-yield

Q: What is the recommendation for athletes with HCM? A: 2025: Shared decision-making for lower-risk patients; certain high-risk features warrant restriction Tags: sports, hcm, high-yield

Q: Can athletes with WPW participate in sports? A: May participate after risk stratification; ablation recommended for high-risk pathway Tags: sports, wpw

Q: What is the return-to-play timeline after myocarditis? A: Minimum 3-6 months; requires normal echo, Holter, exercise test, +/- CMR Tags: sports, myocarditis, return-to-play, high-yield

Q: Can an athlete with AAORCA and negative stress test participate? A: Yes - may participate with shared decision-making (Class IIa per 2025 guidelines) Tags: sports, aaoca, high-yield

Q: What is the recommendation for AAOLCA? A: Restrict from competitive sports until surgical repair and clearance Tags: sports, aaoca

Return to Play

Q: What testing is typically needed before return to sports after cardiac condition? A: Echo (normal function), stress test (no ischemia/arrhythmia), Holter (no significant arrhythmia) Tags: sports, return-to-play

Q: What is the minimum restriction period after COVID-19 with cardiac involvement? A: 3-6 months depending on severity of involvement Tags: sports, covid, return-to-play

Q: What is the role of shared decision-making in sports cardiology? A: Allows participation in some conditions after full risk counseling, acknowledging athlete autonomy Tags: sports, shared-decision-making