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. 2024 Aug 20;13(16):e035898.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.035898. Epub 2024 Aug 19.

Rationale and Design of the Australasian Registry of Screening ECGs in National Athletes Project

Jessica J Orchard  1 , Andre La Gerche  2   3 , Rajesh Puranik  4 , Hariharan Raju  5 , Angus J Davis  1 , Simon Eggleton  6 , Tim Driscoll  1 , Michelle Lorimer  7 , Robert N Doughty  8   9 , Bruce Hamilton  10   11 , Jonathan A Drezner  12 , John W Orchard  1
Affiliations

Rationale and Design of the Australasian Registry of Screening ECGs in National Athletes Project

Jessica J Orchard et al. J Am Heart Assoc. .

Abstract

Background: Cardiac screening of elite athletes is widely recommended by Australasian sporting federations, but data are not structured to be shared. Data are lacking from underrepresented groups to inform ECG interpretation guidelines. The ARENA (Australasian Registry of Screening ECGs in National Athletes) project is a retrospective and prospective, multicenter, longitudinal, observational registry of athlete cardiac screening results and outcomes. The aim is to create a repository to improve our understanding of the diagnoses and outcomes of screening.

Methods: Participating sports that conduct cardiac screening of athletes will contribute data. This includes an initial collection (retrospective data, waiver of consent) and future prospective data (opt-out consent). Data include sex, age, sport/event, screening date, ECG findings, cardiac test results, follow-up details, sport participation status, cardiac diagnoses, and major cardiovascular outcomes defined as sudden cardiac arrest/death, cardiac syncope or implanted cardioverter defibrillator shock, cardiac hospitalization, and arrhythmias requiring intervention. Comparisons will be made between diagnoses, outcomes, and ECG features and analyzed by sport and sex. The ARENA project was developed in collaboration with sporting bodies, team physicians, and players association representatives and endorsed by the Australasian College of Sport & Exercise Physicians and Sports Medicine Australia.

Conclusions: The ARENA project will provide a long-term international data repository to improve our understanding of ECG interpretation, cardiac screening and diagnoses, and the prevalence of cardiovascular outcomes in screened athletes. A unique aim is to address evidence gaps in underrepresented athlete groups, specifically female athletes and Indigenous populations. Results will inform screening policies and guidelines.

Keywords: Australia; New Zealand; athlete; echocardiogram; electrocardiogram; preparticipation screening.

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Figures

Figure .
Figure .. ARENA project overview of consent process, data collection and reporting.
ARENA indicates Australasian Registry of Screening ECGs in National Athletes; and SCA/D, sudden cardiac arrest/death.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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