Sports participation in patients with congenital heart disease is an evolving subject. The American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology released a set of guidelines that advise the type and level of sports participation based primarily on anatomical defects with secondary consideration given to hemodynamic effects. Recently, the European Association of Preventive Cardiology / European Society of Cardiology / Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology offered a contrasting approach to sports participation that is based on hemodynamic and electrophysiological profiles of each patient, regardless of anatomical consideration. These guidelines are drastically different in their approaches but do have some similarities. In this review, we compare both documents, focusing on the aim, population, classification of sports, and the methodology of making recommendations. This review aims to assist practicing cardiologists in integrating the available literature and recommendations when counseling patients for sports participation. 

Editors
Editor-in-Chief
Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC

CME Editor
Ragavendra R. Baliga, MD

Author
Ahmad M. Slim, MD, FACC 

Important Dates
Date of Release: February 12, 2024
Term of Approval/Date of CME/MOC Expiration: February 11, 2025