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Sport Participation in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators

  • Sports Cardiology (M Wasfy, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

Athletes diagnosed with cardiovascular disease may receive implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Until recently, there were no data describing the safety of return to play for athletes receiving an ICD, and consensus recommendations restricted ICD patients to competitive sports no more vigorous than bowling or golf.

Recent findings

The ICD Sports Registry prospectively followed 440 athletes who continued sports participation after receiving an ICD, for up to 4 years. While many received shocks, both appropriate and inappropriate, during competition or practice, as well as during other physical activity or rest, there were no failures to defibrillate and no injuries related to arrhythmia or shock during sports. Recent subanalyses as described below have focused on how best to program the ICD, and on the younger subgroup including interscholastic athletes.

Summary

Based on these data, the most recent consensus statement from the AHA/ACC on athletic eligibility now describes sports participation with an ICD as a IIB recommendation, “may be considered”.

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  1. Yale School of Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, 789 Howard Avenue, Dana 319, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Rachel Lampert MD

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Rachel Lampert reports grants from Medtronic, St Jude/Abbott, and Boston Scientific.

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Lampert, R. Sport Participation in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators. Curr Treat Options Cardio Med 21, 66 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11936-019-0772-x

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