Electrocardiographic findings related to young Senegalese basketball players

Intensive and prolonged practice of sport can lead to cardiovascular and electrocardiographic changes. The purpose of this study was to describe the electrocardiographic changes in some young black Senegalese players practicing competitive basketball. We conducted a prospective descriptive analysis of surface electrocardiogram (ECG) findings related to young Senegalese Black players practicing competitive basketball. The study involved 40 young basketball players, 20 girls and 20 boys, whose average age was 17 ± 0.86 years (ranging from 17 to 19 years) and 15 ± 1.56 years (ranging from 13 to 18 years) respectively. Heart rate was lower among boys, 59 beats ± 9 beats (ranging from 42 to 85) than among girls 73 beats/ min ± 11 beats (ranging from 50 to 95) (p = 0.0004). The following features have been observed: repolarization abnormalities such as T-wave inversion V1-V4 in 3 cases (7.5%), right ventricular hypertrophy in 1 case (2.5%), right axis deviation (QRS axis) in 1 case (2.5%). Intensive and prolonged practice of basketball leads to electrocardiographic changes in the young black Senegalese players.