Analyse de l'electrocardiogramme et de l'echocardiographie de 181 footballeurs professionnels tunisiens professionals football players

Objectives: The aim of our work was to determine the frequency of various cardiovascular abnormalities and atypical aspects observed in Tunisian competitive athletes. Material and methods: Our population was constituted of 181 professional football players (average age 23.1+/-3.9 years) consulted in ''Centre National de la Medecine et des Sciences de Sport'' of Tunis with to obtain medical certificate authorizing professional football practice. Results: Electrocardiogram was strictly normal in 67 players (37%). Twenty-nine players had conduction abnormalities. Repolarisation abnormalities were noted in 20 players. Echocardiography was normal in 129 players (71.3%). Ten cases of valvular heart disease were found. The mean left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 53+/-4 mm and the mean left ventricular mass was 202.6+/-42.7 g. The mean relative wall thickness was 0.380. The left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 42 players. Conclusion: Cardiovascular abnormalities found in electrocardiogram and echocardiography in the Tunisian professional football players are comparable with those usually observed in elite athletes.