Cardiac disease at risk in the young athlete

Physical training significantly reduces all cause mortality in the general population. Eligibility for competitive sport participation in athletes with cardiovascular diseases is based on recommendations. Incidence of sudden cardiac death in young athletes is low (0.5 to 2/100,000 athletes/year). The most common cardiac diseases at risk are hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, congenital coronary arteries abnormalities, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and acute myocarditis. Pre-participation screening is based on the cardiovascular evaluation, including ECG (repeated every 3 years since the age of 12 and every 5 years since the age of 20 to the age of 35). Some events are unpredictable (idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, sudden death related to congenital coronary arteries abnormalities or commotio cordis). A better access to public defibrillation is needed.