ICD Sports Registry

The safety of patients with ICDs participating in sports is not known. It is recommended that those with ICDs not participate in sports any more rigorous than golf. However, researchers based at Yale University are running a study on ICDs and sports.

If you are actively participating in sports or vigorous activities, you may qualify to participate in this registry.

Fore more information, please contact the ICD Sports Registry coordinating center:

• Phone: 866-207-9813
• Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For further information, please see the following brochures:

• ICD Sports Registry Information Letter
• ICD Sports Registry Brochure

The text version of the Information Letter:

Dear Colleague,

We are writing to let you know about an exciting new registry, the ICD Sports Registry, whose goal is to determine the safety of sports for patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Whether sports are safe for indi- viduals with ICDs is currently unknown. Because the efficacy of the ICD during conditions of competitive sports is unknown, the current 36th Bethesda confer- ence on Eligibility Recommendations for Competitive Athletes with Cardiovasc- ular Abnormalities1 do not recommend that patients with ICDs participate in com- petitive sports more vigorous than golf or bowling. However, a recent survey of Heart Rhythm Society members2 suggests that many patients with ICDs are play- ing vigorous and even competitive sports, regardless of physician recommenda- tions. The goal of the ICD sports registry is to enroll and follow these individuals prospectively, to gather definitive data to describe and quantify the risks of sports participation. If sports do in fact carry the risks that have been hypothesized, it is important for the ICD patients currently participating in sports to be aware of potential problems. If sports are safer than hypothesized, a lifting of restrictions may improve quality of life for patients with an ICD who have currently chosen to refrain from sports. This registry does not endorse competitive sports for patients with ICDs. Rather, we are trying to obtain information by following those patients who have already made the decision to participate, which will ulti- mately be of benefit for all ICD patients making this decision.

The ICD Sports Registry is currently enrolling individuals age 10 to 60 years old who have chosen, with or without the approval of their physician, to participate in competitive sports at any level, from little league, to college or elite athletes, to marathon runners or the weekly league at the tennis club. Patients participating regularly in potentially dangerous sports such as skiing or surfing will also be enrolled.

We would like to disseminate information about the registry to patients through- out the country, who can then contact us directly. You will be receiving in the mail patient brochures (approved by the Yale University Human Investigation Committee). If there are patients in your population who are participating in sports as above, please pass along a brochure, or leave some in your waiting area, or let us know their contact information if this is what the patient prefers. Subject interviews will take place by phone and consent by mail, so there are no geo- graphic constraints to participation. If you would like to participate as an enrolling site, we do have openings for further sites so please contact the principal investi- gators as listed. This registry is made possible by support from St. Jude Medical, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific Corporation.