SCREENING AND COMPARISON OF ELITE MALE AND FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS FOR ECG CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH

Young athletes are twice as prone to sudden cardiac death (SCD) when compared to young non-athletes. The paper aimed to determine the differences in ECG changes between elite male and female soccer players and how ECG changes can be used to predict the possibility of SCD. In this cross-sectional study, 148 elite soccer players (77 men, 71 women), 14-21 years, were randomly selected. Following the anthropometric measurements, an ECG was used to determine the parameters related to sudden death. The American Heart Association questionnaire (AHA) was used to determine the demographic information and health history of participants. Related to normal ECG findings, a significant difference was found between genders for right ventricular hypertrophy, sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia. Increased QRS voltage and early repolarisation/ST-segment elevation were seen only in men. Related to incomplete Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB), no significant differences were observed between genders in terms of T wave inversion in V1-V3, ectopic atrial or junctional rhythm, and 1 degrees AV (atrioventricular) node block. Related to abnormal ECG findings, there were significant differences between genders for T wave inversion and T wave inversion local. Using an ECG during screening and check-ups is vital for all soccer players.