Table 1.
Baseline characteristics and screening abnormalities of athletes > 35 years screened for HRCC (n = 2578).
| Athletes with screening abnormalities (n = 494) | |
|---|---|
| n (%) | |
| Baseline characteristics | |
| Male | 396 (80.2) |
| Age, mean (range) in years | 47.9 (36–79) |
| Ethnicity | |
| Caucasian | 488 (98.8) |
| African/Afro-Caribbean | 3 (0.6) |
| Other | 3 (0.6) |
| Level of competition | |
| Elite (national/international competition) | 7 (1.4) |
| Competitive | 249 (50.4) |
| Recreational | 238 (48.2) |
| >6 weekly training hours | 283 (57.3) |
| Screening abnormalities (Lausanne protocol) | |
| History | 415 (84.0) |
| Exercise-related complaintsa | 381 (77.1) |
| Chest discomfort | 111 (22.5) |
| Dyspnoea | 93 (18.8) |
| Palpitations | 103 (20.8) |
| Dizziness or fainting | 32 (6.5) |
| Syncope | 59 (11.9) |
| Abnormal fatigue | 202 (40.9) |
| History of any CC | 74 (15.0) |
| Family history SCA/SCD, inherited or congenital CC | 165 (33.4) |
| Physical examination | 155 (31.4) |
| Hypertension (>140/90 mm Hg) | 70 (14.2) |
| Cardiac murmur | 96 (19.4) |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 3 (0.6) |
| Pectus excavatum | 9 (1.8) |
| Resting 12-lead ECG | |
| ESC-2005 criteria | 308 (62.3) |
CC: cardiovascular conditions; ECG: electrocardiogram; ESC: European Society of Cardiology; HRCC: high-risk cardiovascular conditions; SCA: sudden cardia arrest; SCD: sudden cardiac death.
a
Athletes had one or more exercise-related complaint.