May 17, 2024 — The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) released the 2024 HRS Expert Consensus Statement on Arrhythmias in the Athlete: Evaluation, Treatment, and Return to Play, providing comprehensive guidance on the assessment and management of arrhythmias in athletes, with a focus on safe participation and return-to-play decision-making.
This consensus statement addresses the unique challenges of evaluating arrhythmias in competitive and recreational athletes, including distinguishing physiologic adaptations from pathologic findings, risk stratification for sudden cardiac events, and individualized treatment strategies. The document offers practical recommendations on diagnostic evaluation, including ECG interpretation, imaging, and exercise testing, as well as guidance on medical therapy, catheter ablation, and device considerations in this population.
A central focus of the document is shared decision-making around return to play, balancing athlete safety with quality of life and performance goals. The statement also outlines considerations across a range of arrhythmia types, from atrial and ventricular arrhythmias to inherited conditions, and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care involving electrophysiologists, sports cardiologists, and other specialists.
Athlete-specific advantages and disadvantages of 4 different options for ICD form factors
