Athletes with valvular heart disease and competitive sports: a position statement of the Sport Cardiology Section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology.

This article provides an overview of the recommendations from the Sports Cardiology section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology on sports participation in individuals with valvular heart disease (VHD). The aim of these recommendations is to encourage regular physical activity including sports participation, with reasonable precaution to ensure a high level of safety for all affected individuals. Valvular heart disease is usually an age-related degenerative process, predominantly affecting individuals in their fifth decade and onwards.

[Sudden cardiac death among young athletes--should we screen?].

Sudden death involving athletes is always tragic and receives widespread public attention. The European Society of Cardiology has proposed cardiovascular screening of young competitive athletes. A report from the Danish Society of Cardiology recently concluded that screening cannot be recommended in Denmark at present.