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

participate in organized sports?

Should my patient with cyanotic heart disease (unoperated or with palliative shunts) participate in organized sports?

Unrepaired cyanotic heart disease

"In athletes with unrepaired cyanotic heart disease, a complete evaluation is recommended, which should involve exercise testing. An exercise prescription based on clinical status and underlying anatomy should be obtained before athletic participation."

Individualized exercise prescription.

(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Clinically stable, no heart failure

"Athletes with unrepaired cyanotic heart disease who are clinically stable and without clinical symptoms of heart failure may be considered for participation in only low-intensity class IA sports."

Can consider only Class IA

(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.

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