Does Cardiac Screening of Athletes Really Save Lives?

In Israel, mandatory electrocardiography and stress testing for athletes failed to reduce sudden cardiac death rates.

Death on an athletic field is troubling and often seized upon by the media as evidence of the high purported risk of some sports. Most individuals who die suddenly without obvious trauma during athletic events have a structural heart disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

In 1997, after a 2-year surge in sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes, Israel implemented a mandatory screening procedure that includes a yearly electrocardiogram (ECG) and Bruce protocol stress testing every 4 years for all participants in organized sporting activities. Investigators have now compared the incidence of SCD in athletes during the 12 years before the implementation of mandatory screening with SCD incidence…

Reviewing Author

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate