Evaluating heart involvement in athletes with COVID-19

Hearts of Athletes Study: Prospective Evaluation of Athletes for Cardiac Involvement With COVID-19

Observational Duke University · NCT04736004

This study is testing how COVID-19 affects the heart health of athletes, including college and professional players, by having them share daily health updates and undergo heart check-ups.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment500 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 30 Years
SexAll
SponsorDuke University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Durham, North Carolina)
Trial IDNCT04736004 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The Hearts of Athletes study aims to assess cardiac involvement in athletes diagnosed with COVID-19. It will enroll adult athletes, including NCAA collegiate, professional, military, and Olympic athletes, who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or are identified as local control participants. Participants will use mobile devices to report daily health information and undergo standard cardiovascular evaluations. De-identified cardiac images will be analyzed at the Duke Heart Center to understand the impact of COVID-19 on heart health in this population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adult athletes who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are willing to serve as control participants.

Not a fit: Patients with known cardiovascular diseases or those unable to provide informed consent may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide valuable insights into the cardiac effects of COVID-19 in athletes, leading to better management and care strategies.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored cardiac effects of COVID-19, but this specific focus on athletes is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Any adult athlete (defined as NCAA Collegiate Athlete, Professional Athlete, or Olympic Athlete) will be eligible for the study.
* COVID-19 diagnosed via an RT-PCR, or history of COVID-19 antibodies at least 10 days and less than 6 months prior to consent
* No longer requiring quarantine per local health recommendations, prior to cardiovascular evaluation.
* Identification as a Control participant (similar sport) to a participant without COVID-19 willing to undergo cardiovascular evaluation

Exclusion Criteria:

* Anyone with known cardiovascular disease - defined as known myocardial disease, valvular heart disease, or known coronary heart disease
* Anyone without the ability to provide informed consent
* Anyone with a known contraindication to cardiac magnetic resonance (metallic implant)

Where this trial is running

Durham, North Carolina

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Cardiac Involvement With COVID-19athletes
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.