BACKGROUND: Subclinical hyperthyroidism (sHT) affects cardiovascular (CV) morphology and function; whether such changes can impact on sport eligibility is unclear. AIM: This exploratory study evaluated the CV system and sport eligibility in athletes with levothyroxine-induced sHT, in the setting of mandatory pre-participation screening. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A full, non-invasive CV screening (history and physical examination, 12-lead ECG, echocardiography, 24-hour Holter ECG, exercise stress test) was performed in two groups of untrained female athletes affected by non-toxic multinodular goiter. One group was taking levothyroxine at mildly suppressive doses (TG) whereas the other was untreated (UG). There was also a group of healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: In TG the following characteristics were observed: a) a higher resting heart rate (HR; p<0.01 and p<0.05, vs HC and UG respectively), b) a thicker left ventricular posterior wall (p<0.05 vs HC, and p<0.05 vs HC and UG, respectively), c) a higher mean HR during the 24-hour Holter ECG (p<0.01 and p<0.05, vs HC and UG respectively), and d) a lower achieved maximum work load (p<0.05, vs HC). No differences in the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias among groups were observed. Sport eligibility was granted to all except one subject in the TG. CONCLUSIONS: Although some alterations were found in athletes with levothyroxine-induced mild sHT, these are probably of limited clinical relevance and they did not contraindicate sport participation in the majority of cases. Future research to address both health risks and the need for specific evaluations (e.g. free thyroxine, TSH, echocardiography) during the preparticipation screening of athletes with sHT is warranted

Subclinical hyperthyroidism and sport eligibility: an exploratory study on cardiovascular pre-partecipation screening in subjects treated with levothyroxine for multinodular goiter / L., DI LUIGI; A., Parisi; F., Quaranta; Romanelli, Francesco; E., Tranchita; P., Sgro'; P., Nardi; Fattorini, Giorgio; R., Cavaliere; F., Pigozzi; D'Armiento, Massimino; Lenzi, Andrea. - In: JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. - ISSN 0391-4097. - STAMPA. - 32:(2009), pp. 825-831. [10.3275/6432]

Subclinical hyperthyroidism and sport eligibility: an exploratory study on cardiovascular pre-partecipation screening in subjects treated with levothyroxine for multinodular goiter

ROMANELLI, Francesco;FATTORINI, GIORGIO;D'ARMIENTO, Massimino;LENZI, Andrea
2009

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Subclinical hyperthyroidism (sHT) affects cardiovascular (CV) morphology and function; whether such changes can impact on sport eligibility is unclear. AIM: This exploratory study evaluated the CV system and sport eligibility in athletes with levothyroxine-induced sHT, in the setting of mandatory pre-participation screening. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A full, non-invasive CV screening (history and physical examination, 12-lead ECG, echocardiography, 24-hour Holter ECG, exercise stress test) was performed in two groups of untrained female athletes affected by non-toxic multinodular goiter. One group was taking levothyroxine at mildly suppressive doses (TG) whereas the other was untreated (UG). There was also a group of healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: In TG the following characteristics were observed: a) a higher resting heart rate (HR; p<0.01 and p<0.05, vs HC and UG respectively), b) a thicker left ventricular posterior wall (p<0.05 vs HC, and p<0.05 vs HC and UG, respectively), c) a higher mean HR during the 24-hour Holter ECG (p<0.01 and p<0.05, vs HC and UG respectively), and d) a lower achieved maximum work load (p<0.05, vs HC). No differences in the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias among groups were observed. Sport eligibility was granted to all except one subject in the TG. CONCLUSIONS: Although some alterations were found in athletes with levothyroxine-induced mild sHT, these are probably of limited clinical relevance and they did not contraindicate sport participation in the majority of cases. Future research to address both health risks and the need for specific evaluations (e.g. free thyroxine, TSH, echocardiography) during the preparticipation screening of athletes with sHT is warranted
2009
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Subclinical hyperthyroidism and sport eligibility: an exploratory study on cardiovascular pre-partecipation screening in subjects treated with levothyroxine for multinodular goiter / L., DI LUIGI; A., Parisi; F., Quaranta; Romanelli, Francesco; E., Tranchita; P., Sgro'; P., Nardi; Fattorini, Giorgio; R., Cavaliere; F., Pigozzi; D'Armiento, Massimino; Lenzi, Andrea. - In: JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. - ISSN 0391-4097. - STAMPA. - 32:(2009), pp. 825-831. [10.3275/6432]
File allegati a questo prodotto
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/400875
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 2
social impact