Resting ECG findings in male Brazilian soccer players of different ethnicities: Results from the B-Pro Foot ECG study.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of training-related ECG findings in white, mixed-race, and black male Brazilian soccer players.

Design: Multicenter observational study.

Methods: This study involved athletes aged 15 to 35 years from 82 professional clubs across Brazil's five regions. It included athletes who underwent preparticipation cardiovascular screening between February 2002 and September 2023.

Results: A total of 6125 players (median age: 18) were included (2496 white, 2004 mixed-race, and 1625 black). Ninety-seven percent of the ECGs were normal. Sinus bradycardia was observed in 50.1 %, while left ventricular hypertrophy in 35.1 %, with a higher prevalence in black players (41.7 %) compared to white (31.7 %) or mixed-race (34.1 %) players. Early repolarization was most prevalent among black athletes (48.2 %) compared to white (34.3 %) and mixed-race (40.5 %) athletes. The mean PR interval was 153.0 ms, higher in black players (156.8 ms) than in white (150.6 ms) or mixed-race (152.8 ms) players. Black athletes had more first-degree AV block (4.1 %) compared to mixed-race athletes (2.7 %). Conversely, white athletes (15.4 %) had more incomplete right bundle branch block than mixed-race (11.4 %) or black (9.8 %) athletes. The 'African/Afro-Caribbean pattern' was found in 1.8 % of black players.

Conclusions: Ninety-seven percent of male Brazilian soccer players had normal ECG patterns. Training-related ECG findings were more common in black players compared to white or mixed-race players. The 'African/Afro-Caribbean pattern' was rare in black players.