September 4, 2026 · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2026.07.003

Clinical Considerations for the Care of the Tactical Athlete With Cardiovascular Abnormalities: A Scientific Statement From the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association

Listen to this summary

The authors aim to provide comprehensive guidance for clinicians caring for tactical athletes—such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, and military personnel—who have cardiovascular abnormalities or are at risk for cardiovascular disease. This scientific statement addresses the unique occupational demands these athletes face and outlines clinical considerations across various cardiovascular conditions, emphasizing the importance of preparticipation evaluations and the potential impact of cardiovascular events on team and community safety. The document is structured into 11 sections, each detailing specific cardiovascular issues relevant to tactical athletes, supported by literature reviews and expert insights.

Elizabeth H Dineen, Mark C Haigney, Benjamin D Levine, Michael J Ackerman, Aaron L Baggish, Travis C Batts, Alan C Braverman, Eugene H Chung, Geoffrey J Cole, William K Cornwell, Eddie Davenport, Peter N Dean, Harry C Dietz, Alexander Eastman, Marc Alaric Franzos, J Sawalla Guseh, Travis E Harrell, Edward A Hulten, Cynthia A James, Jonathan H Kim, Rachel J Lampert, Matthew W Martinez, Joseph W May, Francis G O'Connor, Bradley J Petek, Ankit B Shah, Denise L Smith, Paul D Thompson, Meagan M Wasfy, James A Watts, American Heart Association Leadership Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences, Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease, and the American College of Cardiology, Julie A Brothers, Nisha Charkoudian, Sharlene M Day, Michael S Emery, N A Mark Estes, Antonio B Fernandez, Melissa Givens, Samuel O Jones, Stefanos N Kales, Mark S Link, James E Locke, Martin Maron, Silvana Molossi, Andrew R Morgan, Caroline Murphy, Matthew Needleman, James Pawelczyk, Dermot M Phelan, Keri M Shafer, Wanpen Vongpatanasin, Clyde W Yancy, Wojciech Zareba

This is one of 33,000+ journals available on OSLR. Try it free for 14 days.

Free 14-day trial. 33,000+ journals. Cancel anytime.

14-day free trial. No commitment.

"Oslr has become part of my weekly routine on my day off. The clinical relevance of the summaries is outstanding — I'd rate it 9/10. Being able to consume research hands-free is a huge advantage for busy physicians."

Dr. Jennifer Thompson

Dr. Jennifer Thompson

Portland, OR

Stay current without falling behind

33,000+ journals. 3-minute audio summaries. Free for 14 days.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play