Long QT Syndrome in Young Athletes

Abstract

Long QT syndrome is a disease associated with a high risk of sudden cardiac (arrhythmic) death. The frequency of sudden cardiac death is approximately 1: 100,000 young athletes, while autopsies often do not detect changes, which indicates a primary arrhythmogenic death. The article describes two clinical cases of young athletes with prolongation of the QT interval. The possible causes of the long QT syndrome and the difficulties of diagnosing this syndrome in children and adolescents involved in sports are discussed. Regardless of the reasons leading to the prolongation of the QT interval, there is a risk of arrhythmic events. Timely diagnosis of long QT syndrome is the way to the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

Keywords

sports / young athletes / congenital long QT syndrome / secondary causes of QT interval prolongation / sudden cardiac death

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