Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional study
Introduction: The increase in sudden death cases among Moroccan amateur athletes highlights the importance of thorough medical examinations including electrocardiograms. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the frequency of ECG findings in Moroccan amateur athletes, examine sex...
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FEADEF
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación |
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| Online Access: | https://revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/117255 |
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| author | Younes Brouki Youssef El Machrouh Chaimae Khali Mohamed Barkaoui Aziz Eloirdi Boujemaa Zahi Aziz Chokri |
| author_facet | Younes Brouki Youssef El Machrouh Chaimae Khali Mohamed Barkaoui Aziz Eloirdi Boujemaa Zahi Aziz Chokri |
| author_sort | Younes Brouki |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: The increase in sudden death cases among Moroccan amateur athletes highlights the importance of thorough medical examinations including electrocardiograms.
Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the frequency of ECG findings in Moroccan amateur athletes, examine sex disparities, and assess how physical activity levels affect cardiac electrical patterns.
Methodology: The study included 149 amateur athletes (70 men, 79 women) from the University Hassan 1st in Settat. Participants underwent 12-lead ECG, anthropometric measurements, and physical activity assessment using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form. Results: Male athletes showed significantly higher rates of sinus bradycardia (41.4% vs 12.7%) and ST-segment elevation (41.4% vs 0%) than female athletes (p<.0001). High levels of physical activity were significantly associated with training-related ECG changes (p=.010) and ST-segment elevation (p=.027).
Discussion: These findings emphasize the importance of considering physical activity levels when interpreting ECG patterns in amateur athletes and highlight significant sex differences in cardiac adaptations.
Conclusions: Sex-specific ECG interpretation guidelines are needed for amateur athletes, with particular attention to training-related adaptations in males and the relationship between physical activity intensity and cardiac electrical patterns.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2a4576909a1491d88ddeaa23715fddd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1579-1726 1988-2041 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | FEADEF |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2a4576909a1491d88ddeaa23715fddd2025-08-23T01:37:20ZengFEADEFRetos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación1579-17261988-20412025-08-017110.47197/retos.v71.117255Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional studyYounes Brouki0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7906-989XYoussef El Machrouh1Chaimae Khali2Mohamed Barkaoui3Aziz Eloirdi4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1061-7787Boujemaa Zahi5Aziz Chokri6Sports Science Research Team, Institute of Sports Sciences, Hassan I University of Settat (Morocco)Sports Science Research Team, Institute of Sports Sciences, Hassan I University of Settat (Morocco)Sports Science Research Team, Institute of Sports Sciences, Hassan I University of Settat (Morocco)Sports Science Research Team, Institute of Sports Sciences, Hassan I University of Settat (Morocco)Sports Science Research Team, Institute of Sports Sciences, Hassan I University of Settat (Morocco)Sports Science Research Team, Institute of Sports Sciences, Hassan I University of Settat (Morocco)Sports Science Research Team, Institute of Sports Sciences, Hassan I University of Settat (Morocco) Introduction: The increase in sudden death cases among Moroccan amateur athletes highlights the importance of thorough medical examinations including electrocardiograms. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the frequency of ECG findings in Moroccan amateur athletes, examine sex disparities, and assess how physical activity levels affect cardiac electrical patterns. Methodology: The study included 149 amateur athletes (70 men, 79 women) from the University Hassan 1st in Settat. Participants underwent 12-lead ECG, anthropometric measurements, and physical activity assessment using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form. Results: Male athletes showed significantly higher rates of sinus bradycardia (41.4% vs 12.7%) and ST-segment elevation (41.4% vs 0%) than female athletes (p<.0001). High levels of physical activity were significantly associated with training-related ECG changes (p=.010) and ST-segment elevation (p=.027). Discussion: These findings emphasize the importance of considering physical activity levels when interpreting ECG patterns in amateur athletes and highlight significant sex differences in cardiac adaptations. Conclusions: Sex-specific ECG interpretation guidelines are needed for amateur athletes, with particular attention to training-related adaptations in males and the relationship between physical activity intensity and cardiac electrical patterns. https://revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/117255amateur athleteselectrocardiogramgender differencesphysical activitysports cardiology |
| spellingShingle | Younes Brouki Youssef El Machrouh Chaimae Khali Mohamed Barkaoui Aziz Eloirdi Boujemaa Zahi Aziz Chokri Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional study Retos: Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación amateur athletes electrocardiogram gender differences physical activity sports cardiology |
| title | Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | sex differences and physical activity associations with electrocardiographic patterns in amateur athletes a cross sectional study |
| topic | amateur athletes electrocardiogram gender differences physical activity sports cardiology |
| url | https://revistaretos.org/index.php/retos/article/view/117255 |
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