TITLE:
Clinical and Electrocardiographic Characteristics of Nigerien Traditional Wrestlers: A Study of 77 Cases
AUTHORS:
Souley Kimba, Dodo Boubacar, Abdelmadjid Zakaria, Seydou Moussa Youssoufa, Saley Hammadou, Bonkano Soumana Ali, Arzika Mamane, Brah Souleymane, Tchawake Adamou, Ali Ibrahim Toure
KEYWORDS:
Traditional Wrestlers, National Saber Kokowa Dosso 2024, Niger, EKG Changes
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
2,
2026
ABSTRACT: High-level sport induces physiological and electrocardiographic changes in athletes’ hearts. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality in young athletes during exercise. There is an international consensus that young athletes should undergo pre-participation cardiovascular screening. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and electrocardiographic characteristics of Nigerien wrestlers who participated in the 45th edition of the National Saber of Traditional Wrestling “Kokowa Dosso 2024”. This descriptive and analytical study included 77 male wrestlers meeting our inclusion criteria. Mean age was 26.7 years (range 19 - 41 years) and mean weight 87.41 kg (range 65 - 115 kg). One case of severe obesity was noted (BMI 37.50 kg/m2). Mean systolic blood pressure was 129.51 mmHg (range 100 - 163 mmHg) and mean diastolic blood pressure 77.3 mmHg (range 56 - 114 mmHg). Mean height was 177 cm (range 128 - 197 cm). The EKG was normal in 63.63% of cases; sinus bradycardia was present in 36.4%, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 26.0%, early repolarization in 11.7%, negative T-waves in 10.4%, right ventricular hypertrophy in 1.3%, and first-degree atrioventricular block in 6.5%. Some EkG abnormalities observed in our study are probably due to competitive sports.