Skip to main content
. 2022 Dec 1;76:61–68. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2022.11.014

Table 1.

Published case series and registries to date evaluating athletes recovering from infection with SARS-CoV-2. CMRI, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Triad testing includes an electrocardiogram (EKG), serum cardiac troponin measurement, and a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE).

Authors Study Type COVID+ Athletes Included Competition Level Findings
Rajpal, et al.30 Case Series 26 Collegiate No abnormal biomarkers, EKG, or TTE. All underwent CMRI. 4 (15%) had abnormal CMRI, and two had dyspnea.
Brito, et al32 Case Series 60 Collegiate 54/60 had echocardiography, serum cardiac troponin measurement, and EKG. Forty-six underwent CMRI for symptoms and/or abnormal triad testing. 27/46 (56%) had abnormal CMRI findings. 19 (40%) had pericardial late enhancement with associated pericardial effusion. No specific imaging features of myocardial inflammation were identified.
Vago, et al72 Case Series 12 Professional All asymptomatic. All had normal serum cardiac troponin and CMRI compared to healthy controls.
Clark, et al.34 Case Series 59 Collegiate All had normal EKG, serum cardiac troponin, and TTE. All underwent CMRI. Two COVID+ athletes (3%) had CMRI features of myocardial inflammation. One (2%) developed clinically evident myocarditis. Notable CMRI findings were documented in healthy and COVID+ athletes which were absent in non-athletes, such as RV insertion point LGE.
Starekova, et al.35 Case Series 145 Collegiate All underwent CMRI. 81% had symptoms. Two had evidence of myocardial inflammation on CMRI, one was minimally symptomatic; the other had mild-moderate symptoms.
Malek, et al.37,36 Case Series 26 Professional All underwent CMRI. 4 (15%) had abnormal serum troponin. CMRI revealed abnormalities in five, none met updated criteria for myocarditis.
Martinez, et al38 Registry 789 Professional All underwent triad testing; thirty screened abnormal. Twenty-seven underwent CMRI; five had findings of myocardial inflammation. No deaths or cardiac events were recorded.
Moulson, et al.,33 Registry 3018 Collegiate Selective triad testing followed by CMRI if clinically indicated. 21/2999 had abnormal EKG; 24/2719 had abnormal troponin; 24/2556 had abnormal TTE. 198 underwent CMRI with three showing cardiac involvement. One cardiac event was recorded, unrelated to COVID-19.
Hendrickson, et al.74 Case Series 137 Collegiate All underwent triad testing. CMRI was done when clinically indicated. Five athletes had CMRI, and none were abnormal.
Daniels, et al.75 Registry 2810 Collegiate All recommended CMRI, 1597 completed. 37 (2.3%) had abnormal CMRI, 9 (0.5%) of which had symptoms consistent with myocarditis. Twenty-eight were asymptomatic.
Hwang, et al.76 Case Series 55 Collegiate All underwent triad testing; CMRI was used selectively. One case of pericarditis. No cases of myocarditis. No cardiac events were reported.

RV, right ventricle; LGE, late gadolinium enhancement.