Cedars-Sinai launches sports cardiology program

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The Smidt Heart Institute at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai has launched a sports cardiology program to provide specialized cardiovascular care for athletes and exercise enthusiasts.

The program will be led by Eli Friedman, MD, and function as part of the department of cardiology, chaired by Christine Albert, MD, according to a Sept. 15 news release from the health system. 

Dr. Friedman previously led sports cardiology programs at Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida and Baptist’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.


The service expansion comes at a time of growing concern over heart health among athletes. A recent study found male athletes who exercised more than 3,000 metabolic equivalents of task minutes per week had a higher likelihood of experiencing subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.

Leandro Slipczuk, MD, PhD, section head of clinical cardiology, director of advanced cardiac imaging and director of the Cardiovascular Atherosclerosis and Lipid Disorder Center at New York City-based Montefiore Einstein Health System, spoke to Becker’s about the study, which he co-authored. 

“While insufficient physical activity poses a far greater public health concern, there is growing attention to the potential risks associated with very high or extreme levels of exercise,” Dr. Slipczuk said. “Although the overall risk of cardiovascular events has not been shown to increase with athletic activity, the potential for coronary artery disease should not be overlooked, as it remains the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes over 35 years of age.”

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