A cardiologist who works closely with professional athletes has shared his perspective on the ongoing pandemic, myocarditis, safety protocols and more.
Matthew W. Martinez, MD, works for Atlantic Health System Sports Cardiology at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. He was already consulting the NBA Players Association before COVID-19, but his role with the league clearly grew more important than ever once the pandemic hit the United States.
In a new interview with Sports Illustrated, Martinez detailed some of the latest and greatest data on COVID-related heart damage among professional athletes. One of the biggest takeaways from that interview is that cardiac complications appear to be rare among athletes diagnosed with COVID-19.
“Initially, our concern was based primarily on hospitalized, sicker patients with COVID-19, and we were concerned about its effect on the athlete heart, given the potential for myocarditis—or damage to the heart muscle—being a cause of sudden death in athletes,” he said. “And what we now know is that the prevalence of cardiac involvement among athletes, specifically professional athletes and specifically the NBA players, is unusual.”
Martinez also reviewed the various safety protocols he has helped develop since the pandemic began, noting that he and his colleagues are working around the clock to examine these athletes and ensure they are as safe as possible.
“I’ve spoken with more athletes who’ve had viral illness in the last six months to a year than I had in the previous decade,” he said. “So to say that we’re being diligent in this group would be the understatement of the [year].”
Martinez also noted that he will soon be submitting some key findings to JAMA Cardiology.
The interview is full of fascinating information—click the link below to read the full thing:
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Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.