Early repolarization pattern commonly shows notching or slurring at the J-point in healthy individuals; which group is most often affected?

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Early repolarization is a benign ECG variant most commonly seen in younger, healthy people, especially athletes. The notching or slurring at the J-point accompanied by mild, upward-sloping ST-segment elevation is typical in this group and reflects a normal variation in ventricular repolarization that tends to occur with higher vagal tone and athletic conditioning. Because of this context, young healthy individuals and athletes are the group in which this pattern is most often encountered. In older adults with chronic disease or in patients with myocardial infarction, ST changes are more likely to reflect pathological processes rather than the classic J-point notch/slur of early repolarization. Infants can have various ECG patterns as well, but the characteristic appearance described is far more typical of the young, healthy population.