Consensus Statement Supports Screening Asymptomatic Young Patients with WPW Patterns

As data on SCD risk factors and the effectiveness of preventive treatment grow, screening tests may make sense even when symptoms are absent.

Patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White electrocardiographic pattern (WPW) are at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD), but disagreement exists about the magnitude of the risk and prevention of SCD in these patients. A committee convened by the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society and the Heart Rhythm Society has now reviewed the literature and published a consensus document endorsed by multiple other governing bodies.

The recommendations concern young (aged 8–21 years) asymptomatic individuals with WPW. The estimated prevalence of WPW is 1 to 3 per 1000 individuals. SCD is much more common in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients; a recent study showed a rate of 4.5 episodes of SCD or resuscitated SCD per 1000 patient-years…

Reviewing Author

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate