Evaluation of Cardiological Tests Before Returning to Sport in Athletes After COVID-19 Infection (CADE Study)

Cardiac injuries linked to COVID-19 infection are frequently described in symptomatic and hospitalized people and are associated with a poorer prognosis. The question of possible myocardial damage in people without or moderately symptomatic is less established. The presence of a myocarditis associated with COVID-19 infection is a key issue for the sports cardiologist since this cardiac inflammation may be associated with an increased risk of sudden death in the athlete.

In absence of scientific data and on the basis of the precautionary principle, the ministry (Guide to health recommendations for sports resumption, Sports French Ministry, May 2020), sports federations and certain expert consensus have proposed in May 2020 after being released from lockdown, algorithms for carrying out systematic cardiac examinations before resuming intense sport (professional or high-level athletes). These algorithms typically provide a comprehensive cardiac assessment with resting ECG, resting echocardiography, and maximal exercice test. The performance of cardiac MRI, the most sensitive exam for detecting possible myocarditis, remains at the discretion of the cardiologist depending on the interpretation of the first examinations.

Given a much larger screening for COVID-19 infection than in March, with the performance of virological PCR tests required weekly by certain sports federations, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection is important in the athletic population, mostly in a- or pauci-symptomatic athletes. In case of positivity, a cardiac evaluation is therefore often recommended.

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of cardiac abnormality encountered during cardiac examinations performed in athletes before resuming intense sport, after infection with COVID-19.

The target population is High-level athlete (professionals or high-level ministerial list), who had a recent COVID 19 infection, symptomatic or not