An Ohio State study of 26 athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 found that four of them showed signs of myocarditis.
The study, published Friday, was conducted because there is concern that myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle – may have a long-term effect of COVD-19. In the study, 15 male and 11 female athletes at the school came from a number of sports, including football, and no athlete was hospitalized or had to undergo specific treatment for their coronavirus infection.
In order to check their heart health, doctors conducted cardiac magnetic resonance imaging on the athletes in the group in June. And while four athletes have been found to have “myocarditis indicators,” the study noted that “COVID-19-related myocardial injury is unclear in competitive athletes and sports partnerships.”
From the study:
Of the 26 competing athletes, 4 (15%) showed a myocarditis indicating a CMR conclusion and 8 additional athletes (30.8%) exhibited. [late gadolinium enhancement] Without T2 elevation indicative of previous myocardial injury. COVID-19-related myocardial injury is unclear in competitive athletes and sports partnerships. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has the potential to identify a high-risk group for adverse outcomes and, importantly, reduce the risk of athletes for safe participation because CMR mapping techniques have a high negative prognosis value for rejecting myocarditis.
It is important to keep in mind how small the study is. The study of 26 athletes in a conference with thousands of people is not enough to draw a hard-line conclusion. The study summary reads: “While large studies, including long-term follow-up and control populations, are needed to understand CMR changes in competitive athletes, CMR can provide an excellent risk-level assessment for myocarditis in athletes who have recovered from COVID-19. To guide safe participation in competitive sports
The state of Ohio is part of the Big Ten, one of the top four conferences in college college football, which postponed all fall sports until a later date. The study was published a day after Ohio State coach Ryan Day said the conference’s communications following the postponement decision were “disappointing” and he could not explain to his players why some teams were still playing football this fall and not the Big Ten.
Big Ten and Pack-12 say their decisions to postpone Fall Sports were based on uncertainty surrounding many long-term aspects of COVID-19, including its long-term effects.
“We are concerned about the health consequences of the virus,” said a health assessment from Pack-12. “Of these, there is new and evolving information regarding potential serious cardiac side effects in elite athletes. We do not have enough information to understand the short and long term consequences of these health problems. “
Conferences have been postponed a day after reports of myocarditis in multiple Big Ten athletes surfaced. Myocarditis can be associated with a viral infection and severe cases can weaken a person’s heart and even lead to death. Lack of strenuous exercise over a period of weeks or months is a general recommendation for those with it.
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Nick Bromberg Is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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