Pedi CardioRef
Reference: ACC/AHA Sports Participation Recommendations (Circulation 2015) Task Force 5: Valvular Heart Disease

participate in organized sports?

Should my patient with Aortic Stenosis participate in organized sports?

Need to know:

"Athletes with AS should be evaluated yearly to determine whether sports participation can continue."

(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Asymptomatic, mild AS, normal exercise test

"Athletes with mild AS (stage B) and a normal maximal exercise response can participate in all sports."

All sports = likely reasonable

(Class IIa Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Asymptomatic, moderate AS, normal exercise test

"Athletes with moderate AS (stage B) can participate in low and moderate static or low and moderate dynamic competitive sports (classes IA, IB, and IIA) if exercise tolerance testing to at least the level of activity achieved in competition and the training regimen demonstrates satisfactory exercise capacity without symptoms, ST-segment depression, or ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and with a normal blood pressure response."

Class IA, IB, and IIA = likely reasonable (if conditions above met)

(Class IIa Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Asymptomatic, severe AS

"Asymptomatic athletes with severe AS (stage C) should not participate in competitive sports, with the possible exception of low-intensity (class IA) sports."

Participation in competitve sports is inadvisable. Possible exception for Class IA sports.

(Class III Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Symptomatic AS

"Symptomatic patients with AS (stage D) should not participate in competitive sports."

Participation in competitive sports is inadvisable.

(Class III 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 valve stenosis