The above event was held on 28 January at the Embassy of Italy, organised in partnership with the Italian Sports-Medicine Federation (FMSI), with the collaboration of Lord Polak, a member of the House of Lords. It brought together Italian and British cardiologists and sports-medicine specialists to discuss programmes to screen for the risk of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
“This event illustrates the internationally recognised value of Italian sports medicine,” said Maurizio Casasco, the president of the FMSI. “Italy is the only country with national laws on the certification of fitness to practice sport, and in the case of professional athletes it can be issued only by a specialist in sports medicine, who assesses the risk associated with the specific sport, both in competition and in training.”
Casasco continued: “In addition to its laws on the health of athletes, Italy has specific guidelines drawn up by the Italian Sports-Medicine Federation, the only body of its type in Italy, in collaboration with cardiology associations. A study published by JAMA showed that since the introduction of the screening model, Italy has seen a fall in the incidence of sudden cardiac death in sport by 89%, to a level that is now below that of the general population. Today the rate in Italy is just 1 in 1.5 million, as compared to 1 in 100,000 in the rest of the world.”
The Italian model is becoming more important than ever, given the universally recognised value of sport in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, oncological, metabolic, etc.), and in view of the specific competencies required when prescribing physical activity.
“Certification for fitness to practise sport is crucial for prevention,” added Casasco. “It makes it possible to identify potential risk factors or minor pathologies, with clear benefits for the individual’s health and quality of life and consequent savings for the national health service or insurance.”
The event fell within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding of bilateral collaboration signed between Italy and the UK in 2023, which encourages dialogue between medical professionals in the two countries.
“I believe firmly in the value of scientific diplomacy, particularly when, like today, it is used for a noble purpose as saving lives of young athletes,” said Ambassador Inigo Lambertini. “I am proud that the Embassy has co-organised and is hosting this fruitful exchange of experiences among luminaries of cardiology and sports medicine and has been involved in promoting the Italian screening model – another of Italy’s strong points at global level.”
