Italian Guidelines for Cardiological Evaluation in Competitive Football Players: A Detailed Review of COCIS Protocols.

Medical clearance for competitive sports is vital to safeguarding athletes' health, particularly in high-intensity disciplines like football. In Italy, fitness assessments follow stringent protocols set by the Commissione di Vigilanza per il controllo dell'Idoneità Sportiva (COCIS), with a strong focus on cardiovascular screening. The primary goal is to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD), a rare but catastrophic event in athletes. This paper provides an in-depth narrative review of the 2023 COCIS guidelines, examining the cardiological screening process, required diagnostic tests, management of identified cardiovascular conditions, and the protocols' role in reducing SCD risk. Comparisons with international standards underscore the effectiveness of the Italian approach. The COCIS 2023 guidelines provide clear, evidence-based protocols for cardiovascular risk assessment, significantly enhancing athlete safety and reducing the incidence of SCD in high-intensity sports.