Descriptive Analysis of Cardiac Risk Factors and Testing Across Popular Sports Among Young Athletes

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

9-2025

Publication Title

American Journal of Preventive Cardiology

Abstract

Introduction: The cardiovascular risk factors and behaviors in students participating in sports have not been well studied in the US population. This study aims to evaluate these factors. This study aims to provide detailed information about sports participation and compare health information between popular sports among middle and high school students. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of cardiac screening results from a student heart check program from 2007 to 2021. Collected data included exam findings, blood pressure (BP) electrocardiograms, and focused echocardiograms, along with follow-up information from the EMR of participants seen at our institution. Participants were divided into contact (e.g., football, basketball, soccer, etc.), limited contact (e.g., baseball, volleyball, etc.), and non-contact (e.g., running, swimming, tennis, etc.) sports based on the highest contact sport they participated in. Results: A total of 15,761 individual screenings were analyzed with mean age of students being 15.5 years. The most popular sports were basketball (N=4062), football (N=3536), track and field (N=3015), soccer (N=2900), and baseball (N=2538). Non-contact sports had the lowest mean systolic and diastolic BP (111/68, p< 0.0001). Limited contact sports had the highest rate of smoking (4.3%, p=0.0091), exercise-induced asthma (22%, p=0.007), and use of cocaine/anabolic steroids/smoking (3.9%, p=0.0002). Contact sports had the highest rate of abnormal physical exams (8.8%, p< 0.0001), ECG (21%, p< 0.0001), echocardiogram (17%, p< 0.0001), and being told to stop playing and follow up with a physician (6.1%, p< 0.0001). The sports with the highest proportion follow up at our institution were softball (19%) and volleyball (16.5%). Swimmers had the highest average frequency of follow-ups at one, two, and five years, whereas tennis players had the lowest. Conclusions: Our results show that contact sports players had higher rates of abnormal BP, ECG, focused echocardiogram, and being advised to follow up with a physician. Limited contact sports had the highest rates of substance use and smoking. These insights may assist in developing targeted strategies for different sports.

Volume

23

Issue

Suppl

First Page

59

Comments

ASPC (American Society for Preventive Cardiology) 2025 Congress on CVD Prevention, August 1-3, 2025, Boston, MA

Last Page

59

DOI

10.1016/j.ajpc.2025.101201

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