Abstract
This is because it is difficult to understand that a “well trained” heart is not necessarily a “healthy” heart, and many malignant arrhythmias are triggered by physical activity. A project on diagnosis and prevention aimed at recognizing acute cardiac pathologies in young sportsmen has been launched using professional nursing figures, who in addition to having acquired relevant skills in the critical, interventional and clinical cardiology area, have also acquired additional skills in the field of the Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences. The “sport cardiology nurse” can represent a relevant support for athletes’ acute cardiac pathologies prevention and rehabilitation. It takes the young patient throughout the process together with the Doctor: – Outpatient activity (recognition of ECG alterations, preparation of the patient for drug tests, Tilt test, management of complications) – Interventional cardiology activities: implantation of loop recorders and implantable defibrillators. – Rehabilitation and physical, nutritional and psychological education. With the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic, our work has undergone a drastic change. We have worked with telemedicine and activated remote monitoring for implanted cardiac devices. Our experience from January 2020 to today counts the enrolment of 80 patients undergoing ICD implantation, of which 8 subcutaneous, in young athletes. With the video visiting service it was possible to follow young patients who had been diagnosed with acute heart disease, to monitor and identify the onset of symptoms and / or arrhythmias. Remote monitoring is managed by the Sports Cardiology Nurse and the Doctor in charge. Given the results obtained, the project also aims to expand its skills in the environments most attended by young people, such as schools and sports centres in association with local companies in a not too far future. This “Sport Cardiology” aims to train more nursing professionals, to plan interventions aimed at reducing mortality and to spread the basic concepts of health education in the field of prevention.