The Impact of Sports Cardiology on the Practice of Primary Care Sports Medicine: Where Were We, Where Are We, Where Are We Headed?

Abstract

This article is a commentary on the role of sports cardiologists in the athletic arena and the beneficial impact they offer sports medicine in the comprehensive care of competitive athletes. The focus is a dialogue on current recommendations for primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), incorporating elements of the preparticipation evaluation and continuing care of athletes with diagnosed heart disease (HD). The feasibility and potential advantages of implementing well-designed preparticipation cardiovascular screening programs and the role of sports cardiologists to educate primary care team physicians on secondary prevention of SCA and proper treatment of underlying HD are discussed.

Keywords: Collaboration; Heart disease; Preparticipation cardiovascular screening; Preparticipation evaluation; Primary care team physician; Primary prevention; Secondary prevention; Sports cardiology; Sudden cardiac arrest.