Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Athletes with Cardiovascular Abnormalities

Published: November 02, 2015

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The recommendations address organized and sanctioned competitive sports participation.

  • Young trained athletes with underlying cardiovascular abnormalities are at an increased risk for sudden cardiac death.
  • Considerations such as protection of the athlete’s health and avoidance of an unreasonable risks for sudden death during competitive athletics are stressed when addressing medical eligibility versus disqualification decisions, which have become increasingly complex.

Read the full Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities articles in Circulation

Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities

Douglas Zipes, MD, coauthor of the Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association on "Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities," outlines some of the changes in this new update and the reasoning behind them.