Sport aptitude test in active individuals with Down syndrome

Electrocardiographic findings

Abstract

Objective. Analyze the findings and the usefulness of the resting electrocardiogram (ECG) in the recognition of physical fitness of athletes with Down syndrome (DS) according to the Federación Española de Medicina del Deporte (FEMEDE) 2007 Consensus.

Methods. A total of 22 young active adults with DS (8 females and 14 males), aged 18 to 38 years (mean and standard deviation 27.7 ± 6.3 and 24.8 ± 5.2 years, respectively), were evaluated. The sports practiced were the following: dance, swimming, cycling and soccer. The medical examination for sports fitness included a resting ECG. The FEMEDE 2007 Consensus was used as the ECG diagnostic criteria.

Results. Only 8 individuals in the sample (36.4%) had negative ECG according to the 2007 FEMEDE Consensus. The remainder (14 subjects) had between 1 to 3 electrocardiographic abnormalities. Thirteen of the fourteen volunteers who showed electrocardiographic findings revealed positive ECG criteria according to the FEMEDE 2007 Consensus, which led to additional studies to rule out diseases that contraindicated sports. Among the diagnoses, there was a long QT syndrome and three Wolf-Parkinson-White syndromes.

Conclusions. Electrocardiographic abnormalities are common in athletes with DS, the existence of a rare disease that can trigger sudden death not being uncommon. We recommend conducting medical examination protocols for sports fitness to people with DS that include a resting ECG as a basic method for screening cardiac abnormalities that can evolve without SD.