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ABSTRACT: To examine the cardiovascular risk factors of professional football players of West-Asian and Black African descent competing in the 2010/11 Qatar Stars League.
Ten out of twelve professional football clubs attended pre-participation screening. 100 West-Asian males from seven Gulf States and six Middle-Eastern countries and 90 Black males from seven African countries.
All players were screened using the FIFA pre-competition medical assessment, incorporating a physical examination, resting 12-Lead ECG, echocardiogram, with determination of total cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein (HDL/LDL) and triglycerides.
West-Asian football players had a higher prevalence of a family history (FH) of coronary heart disease (CHD) (25% vs. 12%, p = 0.025) compared to Black African players predominantly due to CHD in their fathers (14% vs. 6%, p<0.05). West-Asian players had higher total cholesterol levels (4.4 vs. 4.2 mmol/L, p = 0.025) and lower HDL levels (1.3 vs. 1.4 mmol/L, p = 0.004) than Black African players; remaining significant after adjusting for a FH of CHD. Positively, all lipid levels were clinically acceptable for both ethnicities. Finally, one in eight West-Asian and one in eleven Black African football players were regular smokers.
The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in West-Asia is increasing. This study observed clinically acceptable blood lipid profiles for both West-Asian and Black African football players. However, West-Asian players had a greater number of markers for CVD than their Black African counterparts despite being matched for physical activity levels. Targeted education with regards to diet, lifestyle and tobacco use is required for both ethnicities.
Journal of science and medicine in sport / Sports Medicine Australia. 12/2011; 15(3):266-71.
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of West-Asian, black and Caucasian male athletes competing in Qatar using the 2010 recommendations for 12-lead ECG interpretation by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
Cardiovascular screening with resting 12-lead ECG analysis of 1220 national level athletes (800 West-Asian, 300 black and 120 Caucasian) and 135 West-Asian controls was performed.
Ten per cent of athletes presented with 'uncommon' ECG findings. Black African descent was an independent predictor of 'uncommon' ECG changes when compared with West-Asian and Caucasian athletes (p<0.001). Black athletes also demonstrated a significantly greater prevalence of lateral T-wave inversions than both West-Asian and Caucasian athletes (6.1% vs 1.6% and 0%, p<0.05). The rate of 'uncommon' ECG changes between West-Asian and Caucasian athletes was comparable (7.9% vs 5.8%, p>0.05). Seven athletes (0.6%) were identified with a disease associated with sudden death; this prevalence was two times higher in black athletes than in West-Asian athletes (1% vs 0.5%), and no cases were reported in Caucasian athletes and West-Asian controls. Eighteen West-Asian and black athletes were identified with repolarisation abnormalities suggestive of a cardiomyopathy, but ultimately, none were diagnosed with a cardiac disease.
West-Asian and Caucasian athletes demonstrate comparable rates of ECG findings. Black African ethnicity is positively associated with increased frequencies of 'uncommon' ECG traits. Future work should examine the genetic mechanisms behind ECG and myocardial adaptations in athletes of diverse ethnicity, aiding in the clinical differentiation between physiological remodelling and potential cardiomyopathy or ion channel disorders.
British journal of sports medicine 05/2011; 46(5):341-7. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Background Haemoglobinopathy are the most common genetically inherited disease in many parts of the world. Both health and athletic performance may be affected in athletes training at high intensity and in extreme conditions. Objective This retrospective study evaluates the prevalence of haemoglobinopathy in sportmen of Qatar. Design and setting 712 male athletes (age 14-36 years) of all levels were medically screened in our sports hospital during the period of January 2008 to April 2009. Athletes with a low Mean Cell Volume (Value) and low Mean Cell Haemoglobin (Hb value) were investigated for haemoglobinopathy with an electrophoresis screen and DNA analysis in the event of a normal electrophoresis, and unexplained low MCV/MCH. Intervention 112 athletes (15.7%) met the criteria for investigation. 93 (83.04%) of these underwent electrophoresis and 76 (81.7%) had a normal result. Results Abnormal results included nine รข-thalassemia minor, four sickle cell trait, one Hb D Los Angeles and three subtypes of HbX. 49 (64.7%) of the 76 normal Hb electrophoresis were further tested with DNA analysis. 45 DNA results were subsequently abnormal for three subforms of alpha thalassemia minor. Main outcome measurements Overall, no athletes were found to have thalassaemia major but 8.85% of total number of athletes in this cohort were positive for thalassaemia minor. Nearly 2/3 of the positive results were in Qatari athletes, with the remainder being from other Gulf, Asian and African countries. Conclusion Thus we conclude that there is a high prevalence of haemoglobinopathies in Qatar sportsmen. The use of electrophoresis as a screening tool is challenged by the high rate of false negative observed in this study. Screening, education and counselling is needed to prevent possible health hazards and to optimise performance in this group of athletes often performing in extreme environmental conditions.
British journal of sports medicine 04/2011; 45(4):317. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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Archives of Disease in Childhood 10/2010; 95(10):854-5. · 2.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Many football epidemiological studies have been performed but only two of them have investigated injury risk in a national football team. In the present study, the senior male Qatar national football team was followed prospectively for two seasons. All injuries that were incurred during training and matches were recorded, together with match and training exposure time. Principal findings were (i) a higher injury incidence during matches than during training, (65.9 vs 4.3/1000 h, P<0.001), (ii) a high incidence of muscular strain during matches (23.2/1000 h) and (iii) a greater severity of injury in games than in regular training or camp situations (19.5 vs 8.4 vs 6.7 days, P<0.05). Despite the unique environmental, social and cultural setting in the Middle East, these findings are consistent with previous data from European football, suggesting that international guidelines on injury prevention and management may be applied in this region.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 09/2010; 22(3):323-9. · 2.87 Impact Factor
