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Cited by 70Cardiovascular Effects of ExerciseDoping in SportsCardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias

Illicit drugs and cardiac arrhythmias in athletes

Furlanello, Francesco, Serdoz, Laura Vitali, Cappato, Riccardo, De Ambroggi, Luigi·2007·European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation
DOI 10.1097/hjr.0b013e3280ecfe3e
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Abstract

The current management of athletes with cardiac arrhythmias has become complicated by the widespread use of illicit drugs, which can be arrhythmogenic. The World Anti-Doping Agency annually updates a list of prohibited substances and methods banned by the International Olympic Committee that includes different classes of substances namely, anabolic androgenic steroids, hormones and related substances, beta2-agonists, diuretics, stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids, glucocorticosteroids, alcohol, beta-blockers and others. Almost all illicit drugs may cause, through a direct or indirect arrhythmogenic effect, a wide range of cardiac arrhythmias (focal or reentry type, supraventricular and/or ventricular) that can even be lethal and which are frequently sport activity related. A large use of illicit drugs has been documented in competitive athletes, but the arrhythmogenic effect of specific substances is not precisely known. Precipitation of cardiac arrhythmias, particularly in the presence of a latent electrophysiologic substrate including some inherited cardiomyopathies, at risk of sudden death or due to long-term consumption of the substances, should raise the suspicion that illicit drugs may be a possible cause and lead cardiologists to investigate carefully this relationship and appropriately prevent the clinical consequences.

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Crossref · 10.1097/hjr.0b013e3280ecfe3e

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  • Stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, or the use of illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, LSD, synthetic drugs, cannabis, etc.) can lead to sympathetic hyperactivation and sinus tachycardia, even in young subjects without heart disease.

    “Likewise, stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, or the use of illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, LSD, synthetic drugs, cannabis, etc.) can lead to sympathetic hyperactivation and sinus tachycardia, even in young subjects without heart disease.41,42”

    From Management of patients with palpitations: a position paper from the European Heart Rhythm Association (2011) · cites this paper as [41]

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Authors
Furlanello, F., Serdoz, L. V., Cappato, R., & De Ambroggi, L.
Affiliations
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology Center, Department of Cardiology, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Italy
Corresponding author
Furlanello, Francesco
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2007-08
Volume
14
Issue
4
Pages
487-494
ISSN
1741-8267 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/hjr.0b013e3280ecfe3e
OpenAlex
W2096238532
Cited by
70
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Doping in Sports
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
Keywords
illicit drugs, cardiac arrhythmias, athletes, doping, prohibited substances, anabolic steroids, beta2-adrenergic agonists, diuretics, stimulants, cannabinoids, beta-blockers, sudden cardiac death, familial cardiomyopathy, supraventricular arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias
MeSH terms
Arrhythmias, Cardiac, Doping in Sports, Humans, Sports, Illicit Drugs, Substance Abuse Detection, Substance-Related Disorders

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