[Cardiological fitness examination of the athlete and prevention of sudden death].

Sudden death happening to an athlete is a frightening tragedy. Epidemiological data are quite controversial but sudden death occurring during sporting activity is probably not a rare occurrence. Beside drug abuse and accidental causes, cardiovascular abnormalities represent the principal origin of sudden death. Cardiomyopathy in young athletes and coronary artery disease in older athletes are the underlying pathologic substrates for most incidences. A certain proportion of sudden death in apparently healthy athletes was preceded by symptoms of exercise intolerance; pre participation evaluation directed to detect the cardiovascular abnormalities is probably of more value to reduce sudden cardiac death in athletes than detailed and routine sophisticated investigations.