Coronavirus Risks to Sportspeople: Heart Doctors Warn of Potentially Fatal Condition

Strategic Insights -

As the UK's elite sports are set to resume amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a group of world-leading heart doctors has issued a stark warning about the potential cardiac risks to sportspeople. The American College of Cardiology has endorsed a new framework that recommends a minimum of two weeks of rest for athletes who test positive for the virus, regardless of symptoms. This cautionary approach comes in the wake of evidence showing a significantly increased risk of cardiac injury among hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

Key Takeaways:

  • The American College of Cardiology has endorsed a new framework recommending a minimum of two weeks of rest for athletes who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms.
  • Even asymptomatic sportspeople, like Watford's Adrian Mariappa, should gradually resume exercise only after two weeks of rest.
  • Cardiac screening and blood testing is advised after a positive test in symptomatic cases, amid particular concern over the possibility of myocarditis, a potentially fatal condition.
  • Dr. Dermot Phelan, director of the Sports Cardiology Centre at Atrium Health, highlighted an Italian study showing a dramatic increase in sudden cardiac arrests during the pandemic.
  • There has been a full cardiac-screening programme for Premier League footballers since they resumed training, but UK Government guidance does not mention additional screening or minimum time-scales following a positive COVID-19 test.
  • Dr. Jonathan Kim, chief of cardiology at Emory University, stressed that the return to play guidance is taking a precautionary approach, citing the high prevalence of cardiac injury among hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

Statistics:

  • A study in Italy has shown a dramatic increase in sudden cardiac arrests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The American College of Cardiology recommends a minimum of two weeks of rest for athletes who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms.
  • Cardiac screening and blood testing are advised after a positive test in symptomatic cases, with a focus on myocarditis.
  • There are internal guidelines for professional football, allowing asymptomatic positive cases to return to 'graded' activity on day 8 after self-isolation and a negative test.

Sources:

  • American College of Cardiology (no date mentioned)
  • Dr. Dermot Phelan, director of the Sports Cardiology Centre at Atrium Health
  • Dr. Jonathan Kim, chief of cardiology at Emory University (no date mentioned)
  • Italian study cited by Dr. Phelan (no date mentioned)