The interpretati̇on of electrocardiographic findings in 6-18 YEARS-old competitive athletes in Bursa

AIM: Pre-participation examination (PPE) is one of the most important tools in the prevention of sports-related morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect and importance in the detection of asymptomatic heart and rhythm diseases of ECG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An application was made to Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports of Bursa to determine the number of active athletes who can participate in the study, and the number of active licensed athletes was reported as 14,266. It was determined to need at least 261 athletes in the study according to power analysis. As a result of the decrease in the number of active athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 245 athletes could be included in the study. History and ECG of athletes was taken, and their physical examination was also performed. ECG data were evaluated according to criteria which are determined by international consensus in 2017. RESULTS: It was determined that 87.8% (n=215) of the athletes were licensed by performing PPE, and 12.2% (n=30) were licensed without PPE and ECG. It was seen that ECG was not performed in 60.5% (n=130) of the athletes who is performed PPE while ECG was performed in 39.5% (n=85) of them. As a result, it was determined that 34.7% (n=85) of all athletes included in the study were evaluated with PPE and ECG. 97.1% (n=238) of the athlete's ECGs were evaluated as normal, 1.2% (n=3) as borderline, and 1.6% (n=4) as pathological. No significant difference was found in the comparative analysis performed with the athletes who was performed both PPE and ECG, who was performed PPE but not performed ECG, and who was performed neither PPE nor ECG. CONCLUSION: Although its routine use is controversial, ECG recording in PPE is an important, simple, applicable and effective test in the detection of non-symptomatic heart and rhythm diseases. As a result of this study, it is recommended to use ECG in the routine screening program. KEYWORDS: Pre-participation examination (PPE), electrocardiography (ECG), heart and rhythm diseases in young athletes, suddenly cardiac death in young athletes