title: [ECG for non-competitive sports in childhood: strengths and disputes].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sport is very important for health promotion and conservation. Active lifestyle and regular exercise reduce cardiovascular disease incidence. The Italian Ministry of Health issued the Law Decree no. 243 (10/18/2014) concerning "guidelines for certification about non-competitive sports" to promote safety in sports. This regulation defines the activities for which a certificate is required, the professional actors involved and the clinical exams to be performed according to the patient's health status. In particular, the Law Decree recommends to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) "at least once in a lifetime", introducing much greater news into pediatric practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We proposed a survey evaluating frequency of ECG implementation for non-competitive sports and cardiovascular diseases incidence was administered to 7 Ligurian pediatricians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of ECG/year for pediatrician increased from 10 ECG/year to 50 ECG/year with an indication of suitability to non-competitive sports. One case of QT prolongation and 2 cases of type 1 Brugada ECG pattern were diagnosed. In addition, 3 patients had an atrial septal defect and 3 children had a ventricular septal defect. Forty-three percent of the pediatricians considered useful performing the ECG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECG in children has enhanced the positive effects on the community health. However, it remains to be defined in agreement with scientific societies the age at which to perform ECG, the sports for which ECG is required and the cost-benefit ratio for the National Health System and families.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università degli Studi, Genova.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.affiliation: DI.S.T.BI.M.O., Università degli Studi, Genova.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannattasio
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Genova.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolloli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università degli Studi, Genova.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beccaria
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Genova.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mezzano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Genova.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.affiliation: Cardiologa, Genova.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D000072143:Pediatricians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013177:Sports