Abstract

Aims

1. To review the major physiologic challenges (high g-force and stress could trigger cardiac arrhythmia) of kart racing and summarize what is currently known about athletes.
2. To test the S-Patch Cardio ECG device under unfavorable conditions and assess its accuracy in detecting rhythm disturbances. 

Methods

ECG-data from kart-drivers were acquired during local races, the ADAC Kart-Masters (KZ2), the German Kart Championship (DSKC) and the European Championship Senior CIK-FIA-Serie and analyzed in this observational study. In total, free practice, qualifying practice and 32 races were assessed during the kart season 2019. Data were interpreted by two independent experienced physicians. 

Results

The average heart rate (HR) during a selected German Kart Championship (DSKC) race in Genk (Belgium) was 169 beats min-1. The longest R-R interval was 0.72 sec. The average HR during a selected European Championship CIK-FIA-race in Lonato (Italy) was 160 beats min-1. The longest R-R interval was 0.74 sec. The average HR during a selected ADAC Kart-Masters (KZ2) races in Wackersdorf (Germany) was 147 beats min-1. The longest R-R interval was 0.86 sec. In total 32 races could be recorded successful. No couplets or bigeminy cycles were detected. In one other kart racer a supraventricular extrasystole and a ventricular extrasystole was detected. Interestingly, kart-drivers were found to have sinustachycardia throughout the races most likely triggered by emotional and physiological stress during speeding.

Conclusion 

Professional kart racing drivers had sinustachycardia with heart rates up to 193 beats min-1 during races. This is most likely attributed to a considerably high emotional and physiological stress affecting the cardiovascular system. Episodes of tachycardia positively correlated with mean speed. In the warm-up lap the heart rate was significantly lower in comparison to the race, suggesting that faster driving speed would induce greater cardiovascular stress to professional drivers during actual races. The experimental results showed that the proposed S-patch system provided a good ECG signal quality with accurate measurements even during the kart race and could detect the ECG features of the race in real time. The cardiac interpretation software performs well and is a useful tool to assist clinicians.