Resting Electrocardiogram and Blood Pressure in Young Endurance and Nonendurance Athletes and Nonathletes

Heikki Pentikäinen; Kerttu Toivo; Sami Kokko; Lauri Alanko; Olli J Heinonen; Raija Korpelainen; Harri Selänne; Tommi Vasankari; Urho M Kujala; Jari Villberg; Jari Parkkari; Kai Savonen

doi:10.4085/78-20

Resting Electrocardiogram and Blood Pressure in Young Endurance and Nonendurance Athletes and Nonathletes

J Athl Train. 2021 May 1;56(5):484-490. doi: 10.4085/78-20.

Authors

Heikki Pentikäinen¹, Kerttu Toivo², Sami Kokko³, Lauri Alanko⁴, Olli J Heinonen⁵, Raija Korpelainen^{6

7

8}, Harri Selänne⁹, Tommi Vasankari¹⁰, Urho M Kujala³, Jari Villberg³, Jari Parkkari^{2

10}, Kai Savonen^{1

11}

Affiliations

¹ Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Finland.
² Tampere Research Center of Sports Medicine, Finland.
³ Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
⁴ Clinic for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Helsinki, Finland.
⁵ Paavo Nurmi Center & Unit of Health and Physical Activity University of Turku, Finland.
⁶ Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute, Finland.
⁷ Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Finland.
⁸ Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland.
⁹ Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
¹⁰ UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
¹¹ Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.

PMID: 33150370
PMCID: PMC8130770
DOI: 10.4085/78-20

Abstract

Context: Much information is available on electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure (BP) changes in senior athletes. However, corresponding data on adolescent athletes are scarce.

Objective: To study the differences in resting ECG and BP values among adolescent endurance athletes, nonendurance athletes, and nonathletes.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: A total of 154 youth sports clubs in Finland and 100 secondary schools for comparison data.

Patients or other participants: We recruited young athletes (n = 410) aged 14 to 16 years in 10 popular sport disciplines, including winter and summer as well as team and individual sports, and categorized them as endurance or nonendurance sports. Comparison data for age-matched, non-sports club participants (n = 164) were collected via secondary schools.

Main outcome measure(s): Resting ECG, including heart rate, PR interval, QRS duration, QRS axis, QRS amplitude, T axis, and QT interval as well as systolic and diastolic BPs.

Results: No differences in any ECG variable of interest were found between the endurance and nonendurance athletes. The PR interval was longer in endurance athletes than in nonathletes (P = .05). The QRS amplitude (P = .03) was higher among nonendurance athletes than among nonathletes. Diastolic BP was lower among endurance (P = .002) and nonendurance (P = .02) athletes than among nonathletes. Endurance athletes (odds ratio [OR] = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.81, 4.50) and nonendurance athletes (OR = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.43, 3.35) were more likely to have sinus bradycardia than were nonathletes. Nonendurance athletes were more likely to have elevated systolic BP than were endurance athletes (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.07, 2.72) and nonathletes (OR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.04, 2.87).

Conclusions: Young athletes had similar ECG and BP findings independent of their sports. Physiological adaptations including sinus bradycardia, higher QRS amplitude, and lower diastolic BP, which are commonly seen in adult athletes, were also present in adolescent athletes.

Keywords: adolescent athletes; cardiovascular health; heart electric activity; sports clubs.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological*
Adolescent
Athletes
Blood Pressure / physiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Electrocardiography / methods*
Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac
Female
Heart Rate / physiology*
Humans
Male
Rest / physiology*
Sports / physiology*