Despite having the very highest level of fitness and performance, they may still have life-threatening cardiovascular abnormalities, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that some athletes had an unexpectedly high prevalence of cardiovascular conditions, some of which were considered as very serious threats to health.

"Even Olympic athletes, regardless of their superior physical performance and astonishing achievements, showed an unexpected large prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities, including life-threatening conditions," researcher Dr. Paulo Emilio Adami said in a statement.

For the study, researchers collected and analyzed data from more than 2000 athletes eligible for the summer and winter Olympic games and screened for cardiovascular health. Their screening included a physical examination, 12-lead and exercise ECG, and echocardiography. Further tests, which included 24-hour ECG monitoring, were given selectively to confirm earlier diagnoses.

Researchers found that 7.3 percent of the athletes screened has some form of cardiovascular abnormality, either structural or electrophysiological (causing a heart rhythm problem). The abnormality in six of the 171 athletes was considered life-threatening and they were disqualified from competition.

"It is really surprising that Olympic athletes, who are considered some of the healthiest individuals, should have such significant abnormalities . . . and that despite these abnormalities they had managed to reach such high competitive levels," Adami said. "In most of the cases, their abnormalities had gone unrecognised, because the screenings they had previously had were not as extensive and thorough as the "It is really surprising that Olympic athletes, who are considered some of the healthiest individuals, should have such significant abnormalities . . . and that despite these abnormalities they had managed to reach such high competitive levels. In most of the cases, their abnormalities had gone unrecognised, because the screenings they had previously had were not as extensive and thorough as the ones we applied."