Covid 19 has no severe cardiac manifestations among players in the Tunisian first professional league. This is indicated by a study on the iclinical impact of SARS-CoV2 infection. And this, among professional footballers of the first Tunisian league.
According this study, the Tunisian researchers concluded that the most frequent clinical manifestations were anosmia, ageusia and muscle fatigue. In addition, the clinical examination is strictly normal in all players, apart from the presence of fever in 37 (37.9%) subjects with SARS-CoV2.
Indeed, in all the players, the electrocardiogram did not show any unusual anomaly in an athlete. As for the imaging data, two players presented a pericardial effusion without sign of gravity and quickly resolving. In the rest of the players, the echocardiography was normal. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging did not reveal any abnormality.
Furthermore, the results of this study showed that there was no severe form of COVID-19 among professional footballers.
The effect of Covid on the heart
COVID-19 can directly infect myocardial cells and lead to myocarditis. And this, with an inflammatory histology rich in lymphocytes and an acute impairment of the function of the heart muscle. As well as a potentially residual chronic scar. And this, with an increased vulnerability to malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Up to a quarter of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have significant cardiac manifestations. Including left ventricular dysfunction and arrhythmias.
It should be noted that among the 1388 players in the Tunisian first professional league, 102 players (7.35%) had COVID-19. Three players were excluded for lack of clinical data in their medical files.
The average age of the subjects included in the study was 26 ± 4 years. With extremes ranging from 19 to 37 years old. All subjects were male. No history of underlying heart disease was reported by them. Among the 99 players affected, 21.7% footballers were asymptomatic.
Additionally, researchers recorded symptoms in 78.3% footballers. The most common clinical manifestations were anosmia, ageusia and muscle fatigue.
