title: The Evidence Against Cardiac Screening Using Electrocardiogram in Athletes.
abstract: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes is publicly remarkable and tragic because of the loss of a seemingly healthy young person. Because many of the potential etiologies may be identified with a preparticipation electrocardiogram (ECG), the possible use of an ECG as a screening tool has received much attention. A good screening test should be cost-effective and should influence a disease or health outcome that has a significant impact on public health. The reality is that the prevalence of SCD is low and no outcome-based data exist to determine whether early detection saves lives. Further, there is insufficient screening infrastructure, and the risk of screening and follow-up may be higher than that of the actual disease. Until outcomes data demonstrate a benefit with regard to SCD, universal screening cannot be recommended.
authors.affiliation: 1Athletic Medicine, Division of Health Services, Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA; and 2Military and Emergency Medicine, Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Chad A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Asplund
authors.forename: Francis G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors