A novel marker to determine arrhytmia risk in elite cyclists: T peak T end

In athletes, left ventricular hypertrophy is a physiological response upon routine active sports. If the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not diagnosed and treated , it can lead to sudden deaths in athletes. Not so much data is known whether or not it is favorable to use of Tp-e values in order to reflect the arrhythmia risks in asymptomatic elite cyclists . The aim of this study is to examine the risks of regular bike sport on potential arrhythmia in healthy active elite cyclists and veterans by using non-invasive cardiac tests. Study groups were: healthy volunteers (group 1, n=28, mean age 35.8±4.6 ), active cyclists (group 2, n=27, mean age 21±3.0), veteran cyclists (group 3, n=27, mean age 29.5±7.1 yr). All groups were underwent cardiological examinations, 12 derivation ECG records, transthoracic echocardiography investigations. Tp-e interval, Tp-e dispersion, corrected Tp-e interval, QT interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were calculated from ECG records. Tp-e intervals were measured with Tangent method , corrected Tp-e interval were measured with Bazett formula. Mean Tp-e interval results were as follows according to groups 1, 2, 3; 75.0±9.3, 88.1±7.0, 83.2±8.8 ms, respectively. The Tp-e interval, cTp -e interval, Tp- dispersion, QT interval, and SLI values were significantly higher in active cyclists than the veteran cyclists and the control group (p < 0.05). Both cyclist groups had also significantly higher Tp-e interval , cTp -e interval, QT interval, Tp-e/QT, QRS time and SLI values than the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, there were significant differences in Tp-e interval, cTp -e interval, Tp-e dispersion, QT interval and SLI values between the active and veteran cyclists (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in Tp-e dispersion between active cyclists and control group or veteran cyclists (p < 0.01). Arrythmia related to Tp-e interval, Tp-e dispersion, corrected Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with long-term, intense bike sport training either in active cyclists or veterans. This can also be associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in active cyclists and remnant left ventricular hpertrophy in veterans.