Participation in Recreational Sports for Young Patients with Genetic Cardiovascular Diseases

Genetic cardiovascular diseases (GCVDs) include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), Marfan syndrome, and the ion-channel diseases, i.e., long-QT syndrome (LQTS), Brugada syndrome, and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).1-16 Although relatively uncommon in the general population and most cardiology practices, these conditions are nevertheless frequently associated with an increased risk of sudden death during exercise, events which are devastating to the families, community, and physicians, particularly in light of the youthful age of the victims. GCVDs account for a substantial proportion of the unexpected and usually arrhythmic, fatal events occurring during adolescence and young adulthood.1-27