Cardiac screening in pro athletes

In JAMA Cardiology, U.S. researchers report on cardiac findings in professional athletes after COVID-19. Nearly 800 pro athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 underwent return-to-play cardiac screening — troponin testing, electrocardiogram, and resting echocardiogram — between May and October 2020. Most participants were men, and the mean age was 25; none had severe disease. Screening suggested potential cardiac injury in 4% of the athletes, who then underwent additional testing. Ultimately, five athletes (0.6% of the entire cohort) were diagnosed with inflammatory heart disease (myocarditis or pericarditis) and were held back from returning to play. As of December 2020, no cardiac events had occurred in any of the athletes who had returned to play.

JAMA Cardiology article on inflammatory heart disease in athletes