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Observational Study
. 2022 Aug 16;11(16):e025369.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.025369. Epub 2022 Aug 5.

Cardiac Troponin Testing as a Component of Return to Play Cardiac Screening in Young Competitive Athletes Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Nathaniel Moulson  1 , Bradley J Petek  2   3 , Timothy W Churchill  2   3 , Jonathan A Drezner  4 , Kimberly G Harmon  4 , Stephanie A Kliethermes  5 , Pranav Mellacheruvu  6 , Manesh R Patel  7 , Aaron L Baggish  2   3 ; ORCCA Investigators †
Collaborators, Affiliations
Observational Study

Cardiac Troponin Testing as a Component of Return to Play Cardiac Screening in Young Competitive Athletes Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Nathaniel Moulson et al. J Am Heart Assoc. .

Abstract

Background Initial protocols for return to play cardiac testing in young competitive athletes following SARS-CoV-2 infection recommended cardiac troponin (cTn) to screen for cardiac involvement. This study aimed to define the diagnostic yield of cTn in athletes undergoing cardiovascular testing following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods and Results This prospective, observational cohort study from ORCCA (Outcomes Registry for Cardiac Conditions in Athletes) included collegiate athletes who underwent cTn testing as a component of return to play protocols following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The cTn values were stratified as undetectable, detectable but within normal limits, and abnormal (>99% percentile). The presence of probable or definite SARS-CoV-2 myocardial involvement was compared between those with normal versus abnormal cTn levels. A total of 3184/3685 (86%) athletes in the ORCCA database met the inclusion criteria for this study (age 20±1 years, 32% female athletes, 28% Black race). The median time from SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis to cTn testing was 13 days (interquartile range, 11, 18 days). The cTn levels were undetectable in 2942 athletes (92%), detectable but within normal limits in 210 athletes (7%), and abnormal in 32 athletes (1%). Of the 32 athletes with abnormal cTn testing, 19/32 (59%) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, 30/32 (94%) underwent transthoracic echocardiography, and 1/32 (3%) did not have cardiac imaging. One athlete with abnormal troponin met the criteria for definite or probable SARS-CoV-2 myocardial involvement. In the total cohort, 21/3184 (0.7%) had SARS-CoV-2 myocardial involvement, among whom 20/21 (95%) had normal troponin testing. Conclusions Abnormal cTn during routine return to play cardiac screening among competitive athletes following SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to have limited diagnostic utility.

Keywords: SARS‐CoV‐2; athletes; return‐to‐play; troponin.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Results of troponin‐inclusive return to play testing in athletes.
*Includes undetectable (n=2942) and detectable (n=210).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Magnitude of troponin elevation in athletes with abnormal troponin levels.
A, High‐sensitivity troponin assays. B, Traditional troponin assays. Red dots indicate probable or definite SARS‐CoV‐2 myocardial involvement. Purple dots = athletes with abnormal troponin but no evidence of probable or definite SARS‐CoV‐2 myocardial involvement; Red dots = athletes with abnormal troponin and evidence of probable or definite SARS‐CoV‐2 myocardial involvementHs indicates high sensitivity; Trop, troponin; Trop‐I, troponin‐I; Trop‐T, troponin‐T; and ULN, upper limit of normal.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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