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Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: Cardiac involvement among hospitalized patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is common and associated with adverse outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical implications of COVID-19 cardiac involvement in young competitive athletes. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study with data from 42 colleges and universities, we assessed the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of COVID-19 cardiac involvement among collegiate athletes in the United States. Data were collected from September 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The primary outcome was the prevalence of definite, probable, or possible COVID-19 cardiac involvement based on imaging definitions adapted from the Updated Lake Louise Imaging Criteria. Secondary outcomes included the diagnostic yield of cardiac testing, predictors for cardiac involvement, and adverse cardiovascular events or hospitalizations. Results: Among 19 378 athletes tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, 3018 (mean age, 20 years [SD, 1 year]; 32% female) tested positive and underwent cardiac evaluation. A total of 2820 athletes underwent at least 1 element of cardiac triad testing (12-lead ECG, troponin, transthoracic echocardiography) followed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) if clinically indicated. In contrast, primary screening CMR was performed in 198 athletes. Abnormal findings suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement were detected by ECG (21 of 2999 [0.7%]), cardiac troponin (24 of 2719 [0.9%]), and transthoracic echocardiography (24 of 2556 [0.9%]). Definite, probable, or possible SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement was identified in 21 of 3018 (0.7%) athletes, including 15 of 2820 (0.5%) who underwent clinically indicated CMR (n=119) and 6 of 198 (3.0%) who underwent primary screening CMR. Accordingly, the diagnostic yield of CMR for SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement was 4.2 times higher for a clinically indicated CMR (15 of 119 [12.6%]) versus a primary screening CMR (6 of 198 [3.0%]). After adjustment for race and sex, predictors of SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement included cardiopulmonary symptoms (odds ratio, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.2, 7.7]) or at least 1 abnormal triad test result (odds ratio, 37.4 [95% CI, 13.3, 105.3]). Five (0.2%) athletes required hospitalization for noncardiac complications of COVID-19. During clinical surveillance (median follow-up, 113 days [interquartile range=90 146]), there was 1 (0.03%) adverse cardiac event, likely unrelated to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection among young competitive athletes is associated with a low prevalence of cardiac involvement and a low risk of clinical events in short-term follow-up.

We appreciate the interest of Dr d’Aloja and colleagues in our recent Perspective delineating the role of shared decision making in the care of athletes with cardiovascular disease.1 We concur with their assertion that decision making for competitive sport participation among athletes with heart disease is indeed a “troublesome issue.” This trouble stems in large part from the historical dominance of paternalistic decision making in the absence of adequate science to justify a 1-sided, clinician-dominated approach to health and longevity. d’Aloja and colleagues raise concerns about our call to engage key individuals other than the patient in the shared decision-making process. They cite …

Background and Purpose: This scientific statement provides an interprofessional, comprehensive review of evidence and recommendations for indications, duration, and implementation of continuous electro cardiographic monitoring of hospitalized patients. Since the original practice standards were published in 2004, new issues have emerged that need to be addressed: overuse of arrhythmia monitoring among a variety of patient populations, appropriate use of ischemia and QT-interval monitoring among select populations, alarm management, and documentation in electronic health records. Methods: Authors were commissioned by the American Heart Association and included experts from general cardiology, electrophysiology (adult and pediatric), and interventional cardiology, as well as a hospitalist and experts in alarm management. Strict adherence to the American Heart Association conflict of interest policy was maintained throughout the consensus process. Authors were assigned topics relevant to their areas of expertise, reviewed the literature with an emphasis on publications since the prior practice standards, and drafted recommendations on indications and duration for electrocardiographic monitoring in accordance with the American Heart Association Level of Evidence grading algorithm that was in place at the time of commissioning. Results: The comprehensive document is grouped into 5 sections: (1) Overview of Arrhythmia, Ischemia, and QTc Monitoring; (2) Recommendations for Indication and Duration of Electrocardiographic Monitoring presented by patient population; (3) Organizational Aspects: Alarm Management, Education of Staff, and Documentation; (4) Implementation of Practice Standards; and (5) Call for Research. Conclusions: Many of the recommendations are based on limited data, so authors conclude with specific questions for further research.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) save lives in patients at risk for sudden death attributable to ventricular arrhythmias, pacemakers (PMs) have been improving symptoms in patients with bradyarrhythmias for decades, and, more recently, cardiac resynchronization devices have improved mortality, morbidity, and quality of life for patients with heart failure.1 However, these devices can also be life-changing for the patients receiving them. The need for long-term follow-up, concerns regarding malfunction, and lifestyle restrictions all affect patients with any implanted device. For patients with ICDs, receiving shocks, both appropriate and inappropriate, can impact quality of life (QOL). Lead or device malfunction can result in unnecessary shocks, and recalls can cause anxiety. Shocks at the end of life can be particularly devastating. However, with careful attention by the healthcare team, both shocks and their impact can be reduced. In addition to shocks, restrictions imposed by the ICD can also impact QOL. The possibility of syncopal arrhythmias and loss of control attributable to shocks, as well, has led to concerns regarding the safety of driving and of sports participation for some individuals, a further burden. Remote monitoring increases the ease of follow-up for patients and physicians and may improve timeliness of management. However, a consequence of remote follow-up has been a decrease in the amount of time electrophysiologists may spend face-to-face with patients, emphasizing the importance of communication between electrophysiologist and primary cardiologist. This article will review ways in which electrophysiologists, general cardiologists, and patients can work together to minimize the burdens that can accompany these devices, often weighing issues of patient QOL, safety, and autonomy. Studies of overall QOL for patients with ICDs have shown mixed results. Some studies have found no significant differences in overall QOL between ICD patients and other cardiac patients,2,3 PM patients, or the general population. …

Background— Data are scarce on outcomes of pacemaker implantation in nonagenarians (age≥90 years). Methods and Results— We identified patients >70 years of age (n=115 683) who underwent initial pacemaker implantation in the 2004 to 2008 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project–Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, complications, length of stay, and charges. Unadjusted outcomes were compared using χ 2 and Mantel-Haenszel tests. Multivariate hierarchical logistic models and stepwise linear regression models adjusted for case-mix variation and clustering. Eleven percent (12 917) were >90 years of age. Relative to patients aged 70 to 79 years, patients >90 years of age were more likely to have moderate/severe comorbidity (Charlson score >1; 43.2% versus 40.1%) and less likely to be admitted electively (17.5% versus 29.9%), all P 90 years were 1.87% (CI, 1.63–2.11%) and 6.31% (CI, 5.89–6.72%). Length of stay and charges in patients aged 70 to 79 years were 3.22 days (CI, 3.20–3.24 days) and $38 871 (CI, $38 700–$39 043), and in patients aged >90 years, 4.27 days (CI, 4.25–4.30 days) and $41 373 (CI, $41 190–$41 556). Multivariable analysis revealed severe comorbidity (odds ratio, 5.00; 95% CI, 4.05–6.17) was a greater predictor of mortality than increasing age (odds ratio, 2.81 per decade; CI, 2.35–3.35), all P 5) was more strongly associated with complications, length of stay, and charges than age. Conclusions— Although increasing age predicts worsening outcomes in the elderly, the absolute rates are modest, even in nonagenarians, and comorbidity is a stronger predictor.

Approximately 2.6 million troops have served or are serving overseas as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, as of September 2013.1 There have been 6664 casualties and 51 904 wounded as of February 2014.2 Although definitions of combat experience vary, 30% of veterans with service in Afghanistan and 71% to 86% of those serving in Iraq have participated in a firefight.3 The rising mental health problems of returning veterans are well documented,4 with ≤20% of returning veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)5 and up to 17% meeting criteria for any psychological disorder (depression, anxiety, or PTSD).3 These mental health problems stem directly from combat, with a dose-response relationship–the more firefights the soldiers had experienced, the higher the rate of PTSD and depression.3 Article see p 1813 However, evidence is emerging for a role of combat in exerting not just a psychological but also a physiologic toll. Previous studies of the long-term physical consequences of combat have shown mixed results. In one prospective longitudinal study enrolling veterans shortly after World War II, those who had experienced combat were more likely to die or report physical decline over a 15-year period.6 In the Atherosclerotic Risk in Communities study, however, no increase in coronary heart disease (CHD) was seen in combat-exposed veterans compared with those who had not seen combat or who …

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are well documented to save lives in many patient groups for primary and secondary prevention; however, although the ICD is highly effective at preventing sudden death, everyone will die eventually, whether of underlying heart disease or other terminal illness such as malignancy. As the population of patients living with ICDs expanded, case reports began appearing in the palliative care literature such as, “Death and defibrillation: a shocking experience”1 and “And it can go on and on and on.”2 ICD shocks are painful, described by patients as “a punch in the chest,” “being kicked by a mule,” and “putting a finger in a light socket,”3 and it is not surprising that receiving shocks at the end of life would be a distressing experience for the dying patient as well as his or her family. How often this actually happened was first described by our group in 2004. Interviewing family members of deceased patients from our practice, we found that 20% were reported to have received shocks in the last weeks, days, or hours of their lives.4 More recently, Sherazi et al5 reviewed charts of 98 patients receiving ICDs in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II (MADIT-2) who later died, finding that only 15% had had their ICDs deactivated, many after receiving shocks in the last week of life. The true frequency of ICD shocks in dying patients, however, was likely underestimated by both of these studies, because neither family nor healthcare providers may have been aware of all shocks received, and in many cases, the only individuals who could have provided the accurate answer may have carried it with them to the grave. Article see p 422 The study by Kinch Westerdahl et al6 in this issue of Circulation provides a …

Background— The ICD Registry was established in 2006 in part to measure quality of care in patients undergoing implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs); however, whether outcomes have improved since initiation of the registry is unknown. Our objective was to examine changes over time in 3 quality metrics available from the registry. Methods and Results— We performed an observational study of 367 153 patients who received new ICD implants from April 2006 to March 2010. Three quality metrics were selected: Adverse events (in-hospital complications or mortality), optimal medical therapy (OMT), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). OMT was defined as prescription of β-blocker and either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker in eligible patients. CRT eligibility was determined by QRS ≥120 ms, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, and New York Heart Association class III/IV. Observation periods were divided into four 12-month intervals. We analyzed changes over time and used hierarchical logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders. Adverse events decreased over time (3.7% to 2.8%, P P P Conclusions— Since initiation of the ICD Registry, adverse events have been decreasing, and rates of OMT and CRT among eligible patients have been increasing, although there is still significant room for improvement.

Background— The risks of sports participation for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients are unknown. Methods and Results— Athletes with ICDs (age, 10–60 years) participating in organized (n=328) or high-risk (n=44) sports were recruited. Sports-related and clinical data were obtained by phone interview and medical records. Follow-up occurred every 6 months. ICD shock data and clinical outcomes were adjudicated by 2 electrophysiologists. Median age was 33 years (89 subjects Conclusions— Many athletes with ICDs can engage in vigorous and competitive sports without physical injury or failure to terminate the arrhythmia despite the occurrence of both inappropriate and appropriate shocks. These data provide a basis for more informed physician and patient decision making in terms of sports participation for athletes with ICDs.

Background— Observational studies have suggested that psychological stress increases the incidence of sudden cardiac death. Whether emotional or physical stressors can trigger spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias in patients at risk has not been systematically evaluated. Methods and Results— Patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) were given diaries to record levels of defined mood states and physical activity, using a 5-point intensity scale, during 2 periods preceding spontaneously occurring ICD shocks (0 to 15 minutes and 15 minutes to 2 hours) and during control periods 1 week later. ICD-stored electrograms confirmed the rhythm at the time of shock. A total of 107 confirmed ventricular arrhythmias requiring shock were reported by 42 patients (33 men; mean age, 65 years; 78% had coronary artery disease) between August 1996 and September 1999. In the 15 minutes preceding shock, an anger level ≥3 preceded 15% of events compared with 3% of control periods ( P Conclusions— Anger and physical activity can trigger ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ICDs. Future investigations of therapies aimed at blocking a response to these stressors may decrease ventricular arrhythmias and shocks in these patients.

Background —The incidence of sudden cardiac death increases in populations who experience disasters such as earthquakes. The physiological link between psychological stress and sudden death is unknown; one mechanism may be the direct effects of sympathetic arousal on arrhythmias. To determine whether mental stress alters the induction, rate, or termination of ventricular arrhythmias, we performed noninvasive programmed stimulation (NIPS) in patients with defibrillators and ventricular tachycardia (VT), which is known to be inducible and terminated by antitachycardia pacing, at rest and during varying states of mental arousal. Methods and Results —Eighteen patients underwent NIPS in the resting-awake state (nonsedated). Ten underwent repeat testing during mental stress (mental arithmetic and anger recall). Induced VT was faster in 5 patients ( P =0.03). VT became more difficult to terminate in 5 patients during mental stress; 4 required a shock ( P =0.03). There was no change in ease of induction with mental stress. There was no evidence of ischemia on ECG or continuous ejection fraction monitoring. Eight patients received a shock in the resting-awake state and did not perform mental stress. Four underwent repeat NIPS after sedation; 3 then had induced VT terminated with antitachycardia pacing. All patients with an increase in norepinephrine of >50% had alterations in VT that required shock for termination ( P Conclusions —Mental stress alters VT cycle length and termination without evidence of ischemia. This suggests that mental stress may lead to sudden death through the facilitation of lethal ventricular arrhythmias.

BACKGROUND While previous studies using epidemiological data and ambulatory ECG monitoring have shown peak occurrence of sudden death and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in the morning, none have examined circadian variation of potentially life-threatening ventricular tachycardia (VT), nor has any study observed circadian behavior of any arrhythmias in individuals followed longitudinally. We used the event memory of multiprogrammable implantable cardioverter-defibrillators to evaluate the circadian pattern of sustained VT over time. METHODS AND RESULTS Data were reviewed from 32 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease and sustained VT who had received the Ventak PRX (CPI, Inc) cardioverter-defibrillator between May 1991 and August 1993 and had experienced at least one episode of VT terminated by their device. Mean follow-up was 14 +/- 7 months. Among the 2558 episodes recorded by the device logs, VT occurrence peaked between 6 AM and noon (P = .007 by ANOVA among four 6-hour time periods). Harmonic regression revealed a morning peak at 9 AM (P < .01). This morning peak occurred in patients with both frequent and infrequent events. Among 21 patients who experienced more than four VT events, 8 (38%) had an AM peak of VT occurrence (> 35% of VT between 6 AM and noon). Neither age, ejection fraction, event frequency, presenting arrhythmia, nor drug therapy distinguished patients who displayed the AM VT peak. CONCLUSIONS In patients with coronary artery disease, sustained VT displays circadian variation with peak frequency in the morning, similar to that for sudden death. Individual patients who display specific patterns of circadian variation over time can be identified using defibrillator logs. Investigation of circadian variation of other phenomena to elucidate mechanisms of VT should focus on these patients.