Table 3.

Classification and risk stratification of premature ventricular beats in the athlete

	Common	Uncommon
PVB characteristics
Ectopic QRS morphology	LBBB/inferior axis, typical RBBB and narrow QRS (<130 ms)	LBBB/intermediate or superior axis, atypical RBBB and wide QRS (≥130 ms)
Response to exercise testing	Decrease/suppression	Persistence/increase
Complexity of PVBs	Isolated, monomorphic	Repetitive‡, polymorphic
Short coupling interval*	No	Yes
Clinical findings
Symptoms	No	Yes
Family history of premature SCD† or cardiomyopathy	No	Yes
Other ECG abnormalities	No	Yes
Imaging abnormalities	No	Yes

*PVBs are superimposed on the preceding T-wave peak or earlier (ie, R on T).

†Premature sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as that occurring before 40 years of age in men and before 50 years old in women.

‡Couplets, triplets or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia.

LBBB, left bundle branch block; PVBs, premature ventricular beats; RBBB, right bundle branch block.