Abstract des Autors

After a thorough analytical and critical review of the laws, decrees and regulations concerning the health of those practising sports in Italy, the authors focus their attention on the cardiological aspects of the decree dated 18/02/1982. Having ascertained, from the statistical studies reported here, that the incidence of cardiovascular motives for non-fitness accounts for 70-80% of the total, the authors evaluate the most noteworthy aspects of this topic. On the basis that it is indispensable that the current maze of laws and provisions should be condensed into a few clear guidelines agreed between the Ministry of Health, the Regions and CONI, the authors propose a number of different criteria regarding the timing of visits. The need, for good reasons, for it to continue to be obligatory to perform Montoye's test, thus attributing ergometric tests an integrative rather than substitutive role to the former, is also underlined. Likewise, the authors emphasize the need to monitor blood pressure, checking its level after each effort test, thus resolving once and for all the problem of hypertension drug-addiction in hypertensive patients. With regard to echocardiographic tests, the authors look forward to its being made obligatory during the first check-up before starting a sporting activity, underlining the inappropriateness and uselessness of the "cardiologist's signature" in the current method of form compilation. Verf.-Referat