Sports cardiologist explains: Are athletes more susceptible to heart problems than others?

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The tragedy surrounding the death of Raphael Dwamena (†28) is unfortunately not an isolated incident. There have been similar incidents involving footballers in recent years.

In 2003, Cameroonian Marc-Vivien Foé (28†) died of heart failure in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup. The Dane Christian Eriksen (31), who now plays with a defibrillator, collapsed on the field during the 2021 European Championship. This fate also happened to Dutchman Bas Dost (34) a few weeks ago. Dost collapsed on the field due to an inflamed heart muscle, but survived without complications thanks to good first aid.

Exercise usually leads to heart improvement

Are athletes particularly vulnerable? The fact is: intensive endurance sports lead to changes in and around the body. Even if late damage has to be taken into account, there is usually an improvement in the performance of the heart, and not the other way around.

“Professional athletes do not suffer from heart failure more often than other people,” says Professor Christian Schmied, who specializes in sports cardiology and works at the University Hospital Zurich and the Hirslanden Clinic Zurich. Since Foé’s tragic death, he also advises FIFA as an expert in this area.

Schmied: “Exercise is of course still healthy, but it can also cause heart rhythm disturbances if there is an underlying heart condition. Adequate and regular screening is crucial to detect underlying heart disease.”

To prevent such incidents, top athletes are regularly put to the test. “You look at it very carefully. If there are abnormal findings during the basic screening, further investigation will be conducted. With good prevention you can prevent many things. In addition, life-saving immediate measures on the field are crucial. This was clearly visible during Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest. Every club, but also every athlete, should ask themselves whether they would be prepared in such a situation and can provide appropriate help.

Smith knew Dwamena

Thanks to the screening tests, Dwamena’s heart defect was also discovered. The Ghanaian failed the medical examination in Brighton in 2017 and a move to England subsequently fell through. Back in Zurich, FCZ contacted Schmied to support the club in the investigation.

After further examination, Dwamena had to wear a chip that registers cardiac arrhythmias. A year later, the ex-professional needed a defibrillator, but had it removed at his own request, despite warnings from all sides.

With a defibrillator, such as the one worn by Man Utd professional Christian Eriksen after his cardiac arrest, the risk of a fatal incident would not have been completely eliminated, but it would have been drastically minimized. Schmied: “The defibrillator does not offer 100% safety either. But one thing is clear: it helps in a very high percentage.” (par)

Source : Blick