Best Practice Case Studies-Cardiovascular Preparticipation Screening in Athletes

Pdf Summary

The AMSSM's position statement on cardiovascular screening in young athletes addresses the ongoing debate over the optimal strategy for early detection of cardiac conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest or death (SCA/D). Current protocols typically involve history and physical examination, but the inclusion of a resting electrocardiogram (ECG) remains controversial. The absence of definitive outcomes-based evidence prevents AMSSM from endorsing a universal screening strategy, including legislative mandates. Instead, this statement argues for a personalized approach, allowing physicians to tailor CV screening strategies based on their unique athlete populations, available resources, and community needs.<br /><br />A major issue is defining when the addition of an ECG becomes beneficial, considering individual and population risk factors, available cardiology expertise, and the potential benefits outweighing risks. While ECGs increase the detection rate of cardiac disorders, they are accompanied by challenges such as interpretation variability and potential for false positives, which necessitate robust cardiology support.<br /><br />Despite these challenges, the statement emphasizes that no screening program can eliminate the risk of SCA/D completely, reinforcing the importance of emergency action plans and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to improve outcomes from cardiac emergencies.<br /><br />Moving forward, AMSSM supports further research to address existing knowledge gaps, including more precise epidemiological data, improved screening protocols, and development of educational initiatives to enhance ECG interpretation skills.<br /><br />Ultimately, AMSSM respects the autonomy of physicians to make informed decisions regarding CV screening, advocating for evidence-based research and educational frameworks that can advance safer athletic participation and reduce the incidence of SCA/D in athletes.

Meta Tag

Edition 3rd Edition

Related Case 3rd Edition, CASE 07

Topic Cardiac

Keywords

3rd Edition, CASE 07

3rd Edition

Cardiac

cardiovascular screening

young athletes

sudden cardiac arrest

electrocardiogram

personalized approach

screening protocols

emergency action plans

automated external defibrillators

ECG interpretation

athletic participation