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College basketball

Cardiac MRI Saves Vanderbilt Basketball Player's Life after COVID-19 Diagnosis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Demi Washington, a standout player for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team, was dealt a devastating blow when she tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to undergo a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. The test revealed she had myocarditis, a disorder of abnormal inflammation of the heart muscle, and was advised to sit out the remainder of the 2020-2021 season. Fortunately, the cardiac MRI was the only test that identified Washington's condition, and it ultimately saved her life. Vanderbilt University Medical Center's rigorous protocol for athletes who test positive for COVID-19, which includes a cardiac MRI, is being hailed as a model for other athletic programs to follow.

Key Takeaways:

  • The cardiac MRI was the only test that identified Demi Washington's myocarditis, a condition that can lead to sudden cardiac death among athletes.
  • The Vanderbilt study, COMPETE CMR, found that cardiac MRI identified myocarditis in only 3% of athletes, compared to a 24% scar ratio in healthy athletic controls.
  • The study suggests that cardiac MRI may be a useful tool for evaluating competitive athletes prior to a return to sports, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 diagnoses.
  • Myocarditis after recovery from COVID-19 is less common in athletes than initially feared, but cardiac MRI remains a crucial tool for assessing athlete safety.
  • Demi Washington is now on a three-month, low-activity regime and will undergo another MRI in March to check her status.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering cardiac MRI in addition to traditional screening measures to detect myocarditis.
  • Complications of COVID-19 can include shortness of breath, chest pain, decreased ability to exercise, and an irregular heartbeat.

Statistics:

  • 3% of Vanderbilt athletes had myocarditis detected by cardiac MRI, compared to a high of 24% in healthy athletic controls.
  • 1 in 4 (24%) healthy athletes had scarring in the heart muscle, similar to the COVID athlete group, which had a 27% scar ratio.
  • 59 Vanderbilt University athletes participated in the study, compared to a healthy control group and a group of 60 athletic controls.
  • Myocarditis after recovery from COVID-19 is reportedly less common in athletes than previously thought, but cardiac MRI is still a critical tool for assessing athlete safety.
  • Demi Washington will undergo another cardiac MRI in March to check her status and begin returning to normal activities.

Sources:

  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • American Heart Association's medical journal Circulation
  • COVID-19 Myocardial Pathology Evaluation in Athletes with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (COMPETE CMR) study
  • Sean Hughes, MD, director of the Vanderbilt CMR Laboratory
  • Dan Clark, MD, MPH, first author of the COMPETE CMR report

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