Overarching recommendations:
"ICD indications for competitive athletes should not differ from those applicable to the general population with appropriate diagnoses and clinical profiles."
(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
"Recommendations should be based on existing evidence for benefit and risk and should include discussions of potential impact on sport-specific participation and performance."
(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
"The desire of the athlete to continue athletic competition should not represent the primary indication for use of an ICD."
(Class III Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
Class IIa (reasonable) recommendation:
Class IIb (may be considered) recommendation:
"Participation in sports classified as IA for athletes with an ICD is reasonable if they are free of episodes of ventricular flutter or ventricular fibrillation requiring device therapy for 3 months."
(Class IIa Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
"Participation in sports with higher peak static and dynamic components than class IA may be considered if the athlete is free of episodes of ventricular flutter or ventricular fibrillation requiring device therapy for 3 months.
The decision regarding athletic participation should be made with consideration of, and counseling of, the athlete regarding the higher likelihood of appropriate and inappropriate shocks and the potential for device-related trauma in high-impact sports."
(Class IIb Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)
Reference: Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities. Task Force 9.
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:vflutter = ventricular flutter, vfib = ventricular fibrillation