Screening for Cardiac Abnormalities in Children

Many important previously undiagnosed abnormalities were detected by ECG, but would such a program be cost-effective?

Should all children undergo electrocardiogram screening to detect cardiac abnormalities? Investigators in Taiwan prospectively examined a two-step approach to heart disease screening. In step 1, parents completed medical history questionnaires, and children underwent ECGs and phonocardiograms. In step 2, children with abnormal findings after step 1 were evaluated by a pediatric cardiologist who reviewed step 1 results, performed physical examinations, and referred children with suspected heart disease for full evaluation.

All children (25,816) in one county who were in first grade, fourth grade, or their first year of junior high school were screened. A total of 5121 children (20%) had positive step 1 results and underwent step 2 screening; …

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)