Abstract des Autors

Objective: To determine the prevalence of aberrations in the resting electrocardiogram (ECG) in female athletes. Design: Case-control study. Participants: Thirty female endurance athletes and 30 age-matched nonobese nonathletic control subjects. Main outcome measures: Different measurements based on resting ECGs. Main results: The athletes had lower heart rate (mean 53+/-SD 7) than the controls (67+/-11; p<0.0001), but no group difference was found in atrioventricular conduction (PQ interval). Cornell voltage (RaVL + SV3) reflecting left ventricular mass was higher in athletes (1.18+/-0.58 mV vs. 0.78+/-0.41 mV; p=0.0030), but the deviations from normal limits were small. The index reflecting right ventricular mass (RV1 + SV5) was higher in athletes (0.58+/-0.23 mV) than controls (0.45+/-0.23 mV; p = 0.036) but did not exceed the criterion for right side hypertrophy. QRS duration was slightly prolonged in athletes (99+/-10 ms vs. 92+/-9 ms; p=0.010), as were rate-adjusted QT intervals (p<0.05). J-point elevations (p=0.0062) and ST-segment elevations (p=0.013) were seen more frequently in athletes, but were usually small. Conclusions: The female athlete's ECG differs less from control subjects than has been reported in male athletes. Extrathoracal anatomic considerations may explain some of the sex differences. However, when clear-cut ECG abnormalities are observed in female athletes, organic heart disease must be carefully excluded. Verf.-Referat