Long-QT Syndrome and Competitive Sports

Abstract

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited channelopathy which exposes athletes to a risk of sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis is more difficult in this population because: the QT interval is prolonged by training; and the extreme bradycardia frequently observed in athletes makes the QT correction formula less accurate. Based on limited clinical data which tend to demonstrate that exercise, especially swimming, is a trigger for cardiac events, participation in any competitive sports practice is not supported by 2005 European guidelines. However, based on recent retrospective studies and adopting a different medical approach, involving the patient-athlete in shared decision making, the 2015 US guidelines are less restrictive, especially in asymptomatic genotype-positive/phenotype-negative athletes. These guidelines also consider giving medical clearance to competitive sport participation in asymptomatic athletes with appropriate medical therapy.