Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The QT interval, measured on the ECG, represented the time of ventricular depolarisation and repolarisation, and its prolongation indicated a risk of serious arrhythmias or sudden death. In athletes, this prolongation was sometimes observed as a physiological adaptation, although in certain cases it responded to pathologies such as Long QT Syndrome (LQTS). As competitive sport became more professional in Latin America, concerns grew about latent cardiac conditions, especially after sudden deaths in elite athletes. The diagnosis of prolonged QT required detailed evaluations, as intense training altered normal heart parameters. The lack of standardised protocols, systematic screening and access to advanced technology made it difficult to detect LQTS, increasing the risk in genetically susceptible populations. Despite some advances in education and partial reforms, inequalities in cardiac care persisted, making prolonged QT a medical and social challenge.
Source: SAP Health and Policy
DOI: 10.56294/shp2024110
Author: Eduardo Dizioli Perez
Institution: Universidad Abierta Interamericana
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4410589129