Accuracy of ECG-inclusive preparticipation screening in athletes: more work to be done

Should Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening of Athletes Include ECG? Yes: Screening ECG Is Cost-Effective.

Electrocardiograms should be included in preparticipation screening of athletes.

Among the adolescent and young adult population, the absolute risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is low, whereas the benefits of identifying predisposing conditions and preventing SCA are disproportionately large.1,2 Competitive athletes included within this population subgroup are at higher risk of SCA than expected for the general population in this age category.3–5 Recently, there has been ...

Should an electrocardiogram be included in routine preparticipation screening of young athletes? An Electrocardiogram Should Not Be Included in Routine Preparticipation Screening of Young Athletes

The sudden death of a young athlete during competition is a tragic yet rare occurrence that results in significant public and media attention. Increased catecholamine response to maximum stress in subjects with underlying structural heart disease is a well-known cause of lethal cardiac arrhythmias.1 In 1996, the American Heart Association issued a scientific statement advocating universal cardi...

The Validity of Adding ECG to the Preparticipation Screening of Athletes An Evidence Based Literature Review

OBJECTIVE To review the available evidence establishing the validity of adding electrocardiogram to the preparticipation cardiac screening in athletes. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE and CINAHL databases were searched. Additional references from the bibliographies of retrieved articles were also reviewed and experts in the area were contacted. SELECTION CRITERIA Only original research articles seekin...

Cardiovascular Preparticipation Screening in Young Athletes

Cardiovascular (CV) screening in young competitive athletes is recommended by the majority of medical and sports governing organizations. There is, however, substantial controversy surrounding the most appropriate screening protocol and whether to add a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to the preparticipation history and physical examination. Rather than continue polarized debates and co...