Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain as a Parameter of Mild Myocardial Dysfunction in Athletes after COVID-19.

Whether symptoms during COVID-19 contribute to impaired left ventricular (LV) function remains unclear. We determine LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) between athletes with a positive COVID-19 test (PCAt) and healthy control athletes (CON) and relate it to symptoms during COVID-19. GLS is determined in four-, two-, and three-chamber views and assessed offline by a blinded investigator in 88 PCAt (35% women) (training at least three times per week/>20 MET) and 52 CONs from the national or state squad (38% women) at a median of two months after COVID-19.

IOC consensus statement on recommendations and regulations for sport events in the heat.

This document presents the recommendations developed by the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission and several international federations (IF) on the protection of athletes competing in the heat. It is based on a working group, meetings, field experience and a Delphi process. The first section presents recommendations for event organisers to monitor environmental conditions before and during an event; to provide sufficient ice, shading and cooling; and to work with the IF to remove regulatory and logistical limitations.

Social, economic, political, and geographical context that counts: meta-review of implementation determinants for policies promoting healthy diet and physical activity.

Background: This meta-review investigated the context-related implementation determinants from seven domains (geographical, epidemiological, sociocultural, economic, ethics-related, political, and legal) that were systematically indicated as occurring during the implementation of obesity prevention policies targeting a healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle.

Methods: Data from nine databases and documentation of nine major stakeholders were searched for the purpose of this preregistered meta-review (#CRD42019133341). Context-related determinants were considered strongly supported if they were indicated in ≥60% of the reviews/stakeholder documents.

Frameworks for implementation of policies promoting healthy nutrition and physically active lifestyle: systematic review.

Background: Policy frameworks focusing on policy implementation may vary in terms of their scope, included constructs, relationships between the constructs, and context factors. Although multiple policy implementation frameworks exist, the overarching synthesis characterizing differences between the frameworks is missing. This study investigated frameworks guiding implementation of policies aiming at healthy nutrition, physical activity promotion, and a reduction of sedentary behavior.

Joint position statement of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) and European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations (EFSMA) on the IOC framework on fairness, inclusion and non-discrimination based on gender identity and sex variations.

The IOC recently published its framework on fairness, inclusion and non-discrimination based on gender identity and sex variations. This framework is drafted mainly from a human rights perspective, with less consideration for medical/scientific issues. The framework places the onus for gender eligibility and classification entirely on the International Federations (IFs), even though most will not have the capacity to implement the framework.

Meta-review of implementation determinants for policies promoting healthy diet and physically active lifestyle: application of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Background: Although multiple systematic reviews indicate that various determinants (barriers and facilitators) occur in the implementation processes of policies promoting healthy diet, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior (SB) reduction, the overarching synthesis of such reviews is missing. Applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), this meta-review aims to (1) identify determinants that were systematically indicated as occurring during the implementation processes and (2) identify differences in the presence of determinants across reviews versus stakeholder documents on healthy diet/PA/SB policies, reviews/stakeholder documents addressing healthy diet policies versus PA/SB policies targeting any population/setting, and healthy diet/PA/SB policies focusing on school settings.

Methods: A meta-review of published systematic scoping or realist reviews (k = 25) and stakeholder documents (k = 17) was conducted.

Integrating Transwomen and Female Athletes with Differences of Sex Development (DSD) into Elite Competition: The FIMS 2021 Consensus Statement.

Sport is historically designated by the binary categorization of male and female that conflicts with modern society. Sport's governing bodies should consider reviewing rules determining the eligibility of athletes in the female category as there may be lasting advantages of previously high testosterone concentrations for transwomen athletes and currently high testosterone concentrations in differences in sex development (DSD) athletes. The use of serum testosterone concentrations to regulate the inclusion of such athletes into the elite female category is currently the objective biomarker that is supported by most available scientific literature, but it has limitations due to the lack of sports performance data before, during or after testosterone suppression.

Recommendations for Face Coverings While Exercising During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In an effort to reduce transmission and number of infections of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) virus, governments and official bodies around the world have produced guidelines on the use of face masks and face coverings. While there is a growing body of recommendations for healthcare professionals and the wider population to use facial protection in "enclosed spaces" where minimal distancing from other individuals is not possible, there is a dearth of clear guidelines for individuals undertaking exercise and sporting activity. The present viewpoint aims to propose recommendations for face coverings while exercising during the COVID-19 pandemic that consider physical distancing, the environment, the density of active cases associated with the specific sports activity, and the practical use of face coverings in order to reduce potential viral transmission.

Intervention Effects of a Kindergarten-Based Health Promotion Programme on Motor Abilities in Early Childhood.

Physical activity is positively related to motor abilities. Especially in childhood, an active lifestyle is important to support healthy motor development. The low-threshold health promotion programme "Join the Healthy Boat" in kindergartens promotes physical activity in order to also improve motor abilities.

Heart Rate Recovery and Risk of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

Background: Heart rate recovery (HRR) is a noninvasive assessment of autonomic dysfunction and has been implicated with risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. However, evidence has not been systematically assessed. We performed a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to quantify these associations in the general population.

Accuracy of ECG indices for diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in people >65 years: results from the ActiFE study.

Background: The detection of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is still a common objective of electrocardiography (ECG) in clinical practice.

Aims: The aim of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of LVH ECG indices in people older than 65 recruited from a population-based cohort (ActiFE-Ulm study).

Methods: In 432 subjects (mean age 76.

Echocardiographic B-mode evaluation of the right heart in older people: The ActiFE Study.

Purpose: Right heart B-mode echocardiography reference values have been predominantly obtained in younger age cohorts (<65years). Aims of the study were to describe and evaluate the feasibility of right heart B-mode echocardiography in a large geriatric cohort and to analyze standard parameters in defined subgroups with or without any evidence for structural cardiac disease.

Methods: ActiFE-Ulm study is a population-based cohort study including a sample of people≥65years old living in the region of Ulm, Germany.

Right ventricular function assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography in older subjects without evidence for structural cardiac disease.

The aim of our study was to obtain right ventricular (RV) tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) data in older subjects (n = 95, mean age: 74.5 ± 4.6 years) without evidence of hemodynamically significant structural heart disease recruited from a large population-based cohort (ActiFE-Ulm study).

Assessing quality of life in a clinical study on heart rehabilitation patients: how well do value sets based on given or experienced health states reflect patients' valuations?

Background: Quality of life as an endpoint in a clinical study may be sensitive to the value set used to derive a single score. Focusing on patients' actual valuations in a clinical study, we compare different value sets for the EQ-5D-3L and assess how well they reproduce patients' reported results.

Methods: A clinical study comparing inpatient (n = 98) and outpatient (n = 47) rehabilitation of patients after an acute coronary event is re-analyzed.

Physical exercise in southern Germany: a cross-sectional study of an urban population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of physical exercise and self-assessment of physical fitness (PF) and their relationship to health- and behaviour-specific factors in a randomly selected sample of an urban population in southern Germany.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: In the southern German city of Leutkirch.

Long term effects of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in an inpatient and outpatient setting.

Objectives: To compare the long-term effects of comprehensive outpatient versus inpatient rehabilitation with respect to morbidity and mortality, as well as to changes in physical performance and physical activity.

Design: A total of 163 consecutive patients were enrolled for comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CCR) following a recent coronary event, to outpatient or inpatient CCR according to treatment preference because randomisation was accepted by only 4 patients. CCR was six hours per day for 4 weeks and consisted of exercise training, education, psychological support, and nutritional and occupational advice.

Determinants of obesity in the Ulm Research on Metabolism, Exercise and Lifestyle in Children (URMEL-ICE).

We investigated the prevalence of overweight and obesity in German schoolchildren and analyzed determinants of overweight. In the context of a randomized intervention study, a baseline cross-sectional assessment was carried out in 2006. During a physical examination, height, weight, skin fold thickness, and upper arm and waist circumferences were measured according to a standardized protocol among 1.