Sports cardiology and pre-participation screening
The Sports Cardiology and Pre-Participation Screening subgroup focuses on understanding how the heart adapts to exercise in athletic populations and how cardiovascular screening can support safe participation in sport.
Using electrocardiography and advanced echocardiographic imaging, our research aims to distinguish physiological cardiac adaptation from underlying cardiac disease while informing evidence-based screening strategies for athletes. The group also investigates the cardiovascular consequences of IPED use across recreational gym users to competitive bodybuilders. Our research aims to better understand the mechanisms of drug-related cardiovascular risk and inform strategies to improve awareness, detection, and harm reduction.
The challenge in sports cardiology is recognising when the athlete’s heart reflects health and performance, and when it signals disease. Our work aims to refine the tools that allow us to make that distinction with confidence.
The growing use of image and performance enhancing drugs presents an emerging cardiovascular health challenge and our research also aims to better understand their impact on the heart and generate evidence that can inform education, prevention, and safer practice within the fitness community.
David Oxborough
Sub-Group Lead, RISES
Research
Using electrocardiography and advanced echocardiographic imaging, our research seeks to define the normal range and determinants of the athlete’s heart, including the influence of age, sex, ethnicity, and sporting discipline.
A key focus of our work is improving the ability to differentiate physiological cardiac adaptation from inherited cardiac conditions such as cardiomyopathy. In parallel, we evaluate the effectiveness of pre-participation cardiac screening programmes, contributing to the development and implementation of national screening guidelines informed by our research.
Our research adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating sports cardiology, nutrition, lipidomics, and advanced cardiovascular imaging to better understand the physiological and pathological consequences of IPED use.
Through this work, we aim to identify the cardiovascular risks associated with these substances and develop evidence-based strategies to raise awareness, improve detection, and ultimately reduce harm within these populations.