Verzantvoort, Odile (2024) ECG changes during adolescence in football players. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Preparticipation screening (PPS) is conducted in football players to identify and prevent cardiovascular issues, including life-threatening conditions such as sudden cardiac death (SCD). Electrocardiograms (ECGs) are a key tool in PPS for detecting cardiac abnormalities. ECG abnormalities are rare due to improved criteria and serve as indicators of potential cardiovascular problems. This study aimed to investigate the ECG characteristics in football players aged 12 to 18 during PPS and to explore potential relationships between ECG findings, age, and gender. A retrospective multicenter observational cohort study was conducted, analyzing 1717 ECGs using SPSS. Results were stratified by age group and genders. Male athletes showed a higher prevalence of ECG abnormalities, with T-wave inversions (TWIs) more common in older males. Increased QRS voltage and prolonged QRS duration were also more frequently observed in older adolescent athletes. Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to gain a clearer understanding of the age and gender at which specific ECG abnormalities occur. This could enhance the specificity of PPS, leading to more accurate screenings, fewer false positives, reduced costs, and improved healthcare support for young athletes.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Snoek, A.J. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Dec 2025 13:23 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Dec 2025 13:23 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3868 |
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