title: Electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes: the 'Seattle criteria'.
abstract: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of death in athletes during sport. Whether obtained for screening or diagnostic purposes, an ECG increases the ability to detect underlying cardiovascular conditions that may increase the risk for SCD. In most countries, there is a shortage of physician expertise in the interpretation of an athlete's ECG. A critical need exists for physician education in modern ECG interpretation that distinguishes normal physiological adaptations in athletes from abnormal findings suggestive of pathology. On 13-14 February 2012, an international group of experts in sports cardiology and sports medicine convened in Seattle, Washington, to define contemporary standards for ECG interpretation in athletes. The objective of the meeting was to develop a comprehensive training resource to help physicians distinguish normal ECG alterations in athletes from abnormal ECG findings that require additional evaluation for conditions associated with SCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. jdrezner@uw.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Drezner
authors.forename: Michael John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Euan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Chad A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Asplund
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Baggish
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Börjesson
authors.forename: Bryan C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: DiFiori
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fischbach
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Froelicher
authors.forename: Kimberly G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heidbuchel
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marek
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelliccia
authors.forename: Jordan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prutkin
authors.forename: Jack C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Christian M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schmied
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Vetter
authors.forename: Mathew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D020375:Education, Distance; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D012015:Reference Standards; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*