Diagnostic yield in national team football players

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private company. Main source(s): Malta Football Association. Introduction Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important cause morbidity in competitive athletes. Pre-participation evaluation (PPE) mandatory for most sporting organisations. The ECG plays a very diagnostic role and included screening algorithms. PPE athletes ≥14 years registered with the National Association now mandatory. Study objectives: objective this study was to assess yield group elite Maltese football players competing at national level. Methodology Players selected level (years 2020-2022) underwent (history, physical examination, resting ECG). Senior team also echocardiography (biannually) as per regulations. Data tabulated analyzed Microsoft Excel. Results 300 (69% male) were timeframe. 10.6% (n=32) required referral secondary evaluation, equating 1 11 screened. Referrals more frequent male vs female (22.1% 10.2%, p=0.005). Most referrals from men’s senior’s squad (22.5%), followed by U17 (21.7%) 20% U15 team. commonest reason sports cardiologist (n=23, 71.8%). abnormal patterns anterior TWI (n=9, 3.0%), inferior/lateral (n=6, 2.0%) WPW (n=2, 0.7%). 108 (36.0%) had first line modality. This fifth those referred (n=7, 21.9%), 4 these normal ECG. 3 (1.0%) diagnosed condition linked SCD (n=2 WPW, n=1 HCM). Another 5 (1.7%) disorder (n=1 left ventricular outflow tract ectopy, dilated aortic root, regurgitation, atrial septal defect, mitral regurgitation). Echocardiography doubled (1.3% 2.7%), having otherwise history, examination 38 (2.7%) given diagnosis, 100 labelled SCD. Conclusion rate comparable that reported international programs, higher males. referral. overall equates 2.7%, while 1.0% diagnosis population highlights importance raising awareness about heart disease young