title: Update on cardiovascular screening: can we prevent sudden cardiac death in adolescent athletes?
abstract: Cardiovascular screening of athletes to prevent sudden death has been a subject of ongoing debate. In the United States, such screening is currently based on history and physical examination. The International Olympic Committee and the European Sports Council require an electrocardiogram (ECG) as part of screening athletes. The 2010 European Society of Cardiology guidelines and recent US studies suggest the usefulness of ECG in screening athletes. This article provides an overview of key aspects of cardiovascular screening currently recommended in the United States and the recommendations for the use of ECG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA. dilip.patel@med.wmich.edu
authors.forename: Dilip R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Eugene F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Luckstead
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D047548:Defibrillators; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination