European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science-2501-1235

Mountain ultra-marathons participants are exposed to multiple internal and external stressors, from exercise and environment that can affect the cardiovascular response such as electrocardiographic profile (ECG). The aim of this study was to determine the electrocardiographic profile of athletes participating on the mount Cameroon race. Fifty-nine athletes and 50 non-athletes (31±7 vs 24±3 years) participated to the study during the 17th edition of Mount Cameroon ascent on February 18, 2012. ECG of 12leads rest was measured in athletes and non-athletes. Resting heart rate (54±3 vs 71±9 bats/min) was lower (P<0.001) in athletes than non-athletes. P wave duration (108.5±1.8 vs 100.7±1.7 ms), PR interval (170.4±27.2 vs 155.8±22.3 ms), and RR interval (1072.3±188.2 vs 875.6±128.4 ms) were significantly higher (P<0.001) in athletes compared to non-athletes. However, on Rhythm and morphology abnormalities, athletes developed a sinus bradycardia (88.1 vs 8%), sinus arythmia (76.3 vs 22%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (54.2 vs 6%) higher than those of non-athletes (P<0.001). For the abnormalities of ECG conduction, atrioventricular block I (11.9 vs 6%), Gassina Louis-Georges, Mekoulou Ndongo Jerson, Guessogo Wiliam Richard, Assomo Ndemba Peguy Brice, Tchoundjin Ernest, Bika Lele Elysée Claude, Pepouomi Mama Nourdi, Mandengue Samuel Honoré, Temfemo Abdou ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ATHLETES OF MOUNT CAMEROON ASCENT: PREVENTION OF SUDDEN DEATH European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science Volume 5 │ Issue 4 │ 2019 48 incomplete Right Bundle Branch Block (5.1 vs 2 %), incomplete Left Branch Block (1.7 vs 0%), Left anterior fascicular block (1.7 vs 0%), T-wave inversion (V1-V6) (10.2 vs 8%), Short PR (3.4 vs 2%), Sus ST Segment shift (5.1 vs 4%) were similar in both groups. But, early repolarization (40.7 vs 16%) was significantly higher (P<0.001) in athletes than non-athletes. Mountain race athletes develop some cardiac ECG electric morphofunctional abnormalities.