Reinhard W, et al. - Researchers examined a total of 623 elite athletes (age 21 ± 5 years), to determine the prevalence of early repolarization (ER) pattern and predisposing echocardiographic characteristics and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in these subjects, given that ER is particularly common in athletes and is associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and increased long-term cardiovascular mortality. All athletes participated in a clinical follow-up. Findings revealed no association of ER presence with distinct alterations in echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise in elite athletes. They noted that, rather male athletes presented with ER; these subjects were lean and had a low heart rate.