Echocardiographic screening in children and teenagers to be admitted to sports activities

Children and teenagers are a group in which congenital heart disease (CHD) is most commonly considered as a contraindication to sports activities. In this connection, 440 athletes aged 15.6±1.8 years, who had been going for sports for 6.4±2.5 years and who had undergone echocardiography, were examined. The rate of congenital heart disease according to the preliminary diagnoses was 77 (17.5%), that after echocardiographic verification was 238 (54.1%) (p<0.0000). Training volume and intensity limitations were recommended in 114 (47.9%) athletes because of cardiac morphological and functional changes. These changes contradicting sports activities were not found in 124 (52.1%) athletes. Conclusions. 1. EchoCG screening for congenital heart disease is required to define contraindications to sports activities, for it is impossible to establish its diagnosis only on the basis of clinical examination and ECG. 2. The mere fact of CHD is not a contraindication to athletic activities; is necessary to evaluate hemodynamic disorders associated with this pathology. 3. Abnormally located chordae and trabeculae are neither followed by any complications and nor a contradiction to sports activities.

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