Diagnosing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Athletes

Chalisa Srisukajorn, Preventive Genomics Clinic, Department of Medicine and Bumrungrad Genomic Medicine Institute, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok Thailand
Tamonwan Megan Jirakulaporn, Preventive Genomics Clinic, Department of Medicine and Bumrungrad Genomic Medicine Institute, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok Thailand
Helen C Huang, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Erik Fung, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Polakit Teekakirikul, Preventive Genomics Clinic, Department of Medicine and Bumrungrad Genomic Medicine Institute, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok ThailandFollow

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a young asymptomatic individual is a devastating, unpredictable event, with a widespread impact on the public health system. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of genetic heart disease, and considered one of the leading causes of SCD affecting young and frequently asymptomatic patients. A diagnosis of HCM is challenging particularly in young athletes due to overlapping clinical phenotypesbetween pathological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and exercise-induced physiological LVH. Severalinvestigational tools have been used to differentiate these two distinct entities. This review article focuses upon the diagnosis of HCM in young athletes, SCD risk assessment, and current recommendations for exercise in athletic individuals with HCM.

Recommended Citation

Chalisa Srisukajorn, Tamonwan Megan Jirakulaporn, Helen C Huang, Erik Fung, Polakit Teekakirikul, Diagnosing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Athletes Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology 2023;30(3) https://doi.org/10.55503/2790-6744.1502