Pedi CardioRef
Reference: ACC/AHA Sports Participation Recommendations (Circulation 2015) Task Force 4: Congenital Heart Disease

participate in organized sports?

Should my patient with aortic valve stenosis participate in organized sports?

Need to know:

Mild AS

"Athletes with mild AS can participate in all competitive sports (Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence B)."

All sports = likely acceptable

Moderate AS

"Athletes with moderate AS may be considered for participation in low static or low to moderate dynamic sports (class IA, IB, and IIA)."

Can consider class IA, IB, IIA sports only

(Class IIb Recommendation; Level of Evidence B)

Severe AS

"Athletes with severe AS should be restricted from all competitive sports, with the possible exception of low-intensity (class IA) sports (Class III Recommendation; Level of Evidence B)."

"Athletes with severe AS can participate only in low-intensity class IA sports (Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence B)."

Only low-intensity class IA sports

Residual AS

"Athletes with residual AS may be considered for participation in sports according to the above recommendations based on severity (Class IIb Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)."


Reference: Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities. A Scientific Statement From the AHA and ACC. Circulation 2015

Disclaimer: This website is derived from published guidelines, but does not constitute medical advice nor does it replace clinical judgement. Only the text in quotation marks are direct quotations from the original guidelines. Text not in quotations as well as the method of information display are all that of the website creator and are not part of the original published guidelines. Please consult a physician to discuss any patient-specific matters.

Key: AS = aortic stenosis, echo = echocardiogram