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Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine

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Open Access 01-10-2018 | Sports Cardiology (M Papadakis, Section Editor)

Cardiac Screening of Young Athletes: a Practical Approach to Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention

Authors: Harshil Dhutia, MBBS, MRCP, Hamish MacLachlan, MBChB, MRCP

Published in: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine | Issue 10/2018

Abstract

Purpose of review

We aim to report on the current status of cardiovascular screening of athletes worldwide and review the up-to-date evidence for its efficacy in reducing sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

Recent findings

A large proportion of sudden cardiac death in young individuals and athletes occurs during rest with sudden arrhythmic death syndrome being recognised as the leading cause. The international recommendations for ECG interpretation have reduced the false-positive ECG rate to 3% and reduced the cost of screening by 25% without compromising the sensitivity to identify serious disease. There are some quality control issues that have been recently identified including the necessity for further training to guide physicians involved in screening young athletes.

Summary

Improvements in our understanding of young sudden cardiac death and ECG interpretation guideline modification to further differentiate physiological ECG patterns from those that may represent underlying disease have significantly improved the efficacy of screening to levels that may make screening more attractive and feasible to sporting organisations as a complementary strategy to increased availability of automated external defibrillators to reduce the overall burden of young sudden cardiac death.

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Title: Cardiac Screening of Young Athletes: a Practical Approach to Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention
Authors: Harshil Dhutia, MBBS, MRCP
Hamish MacLachlan, MBChB, MRCP
Publication date: 01-10-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine / Issue 10/2018
Print ISSN: 1092-8464
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3189
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11936-018-0681-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Cardiac Screening of Young Athletes: a Practical Approach to Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention

Abstract

Purpose of review

Recent findings

Summary

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose of review

Recent findings

Summary

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