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. 2011 Apr 19:2:33-40.
doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S19029. eCollection 2011.

Prevalence of Brugada-type ECG pattern and early ventricular repolarization pattern in Tunisian athletes

Sana Ouali  1 , Helmi Ben Salem, Sami Hammas, Elyes Neffeti, Fahmi Remedi, Abdallah Mahdhaoui, Essia Boughzela, Rafik Mankai
Affiliations

Prevalence of Brugada-type ECG pattern and early ventricular repolarization pattern in Tunisian athletes

Sana Ouali et al. Open Access J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Introduction: No data regarding the prevalence of the Brugada-type electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern and the early ventricular repolarization pattern (ERP) in the North African population were available. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of Brugada-type ECG pattern and ERP in Tunisia and to evaluate ECG descriptors of ventricular repolarization in a population of athletes.

Methods: Over a 2-year period, resting 12-lead ECG recordings were analyzed from athletes (n = 540; 348 males; age 18.3 ± 2.4 years). Brugada-type ECG pattern was defined as Type 1, 2, or 3, and ERP was characterized by an elevation of the J point in the inferior and/or lateral leads. The population was divided into three groups of athletes: ERP group; Brugada-type ECG pattern group; and control group, with neither ERP nor Brugada ECG pattern. Clinical and electrocardiographic parameters were compared among the study groups.

Results: Nine subjects (1.66%) had a Brugada-type ECG pattern. None of them had the coved-type, 3 (0.6%) had the Type 2, and 6 (1.1%) had the Type 3. All subjects were asymptomatic. A Brugada-type ECG pattern was observed in seven males. No female had the Type 2 Brugada ECG pattern. ECG parameters were similar among Brugada-type ECG pattern and control athletes. ERP (119 subjects, 22%) was obtained in 98 males. Heart rate was lower, the QRS duration shorter and QT and Tpeak-Tend intervals were longer in ERP than control groups.

Conclusion: The results indicate that the frequency of the Brugada-type ECG pattern and ERP were respectively 1.66% and 22.00% in athletes, being more prevalent in males. The ERP group experienced shorter QRS duration and longer Tpeak-Tend interval than in the control population.

Keywords: ERP athletes; J wave; T wave.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Type 2 Brugada-type ECG of an athlete demonstrates saddle-back type ST-segment elevation (>1 mm) in lead V2.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sample electrocardiograms from two athletes, demonstrating early ventricular repolarization (ERP)-type ECG. ERP defined as ≥1 mm elevation of the QRS–ST junction (J point) in either inferior leads (Type 2) (A) or inferior and lateral leads (Type 3) (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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