Accuracy of ECG-inclusive preparticipation screening in athletes: more work to be done

Assessment of the 12-Lead ECG as a Screening Test for Detection of Cardiovascular Disease in Healthy General Populations of Young People (12–25 Years of Age)

“…Although the 12-lead ECG can be regarded as more sensitive than the history and physical, 91,98,104,172 it is nevertheless associated with reduced specificity because of falsepositive results. 17,24,25,55,64,65,88,91 However, the acknowledged insensitivity of the history and physical examination screening cannot be considered a major justification for mass screening of general populations with ECGs.…”

Why cardiovascular screening is not appropriate for the general population?

“…Sudden death while participating in sports causes irreparable damage to the individual and affects many parts of society, such as the victim's family, team members, and healthcare workers. The previous study (Weiner et al, 2012) [1] has shown that most sudden exercise-related deaths result from cardiovascular disease. At present, the common causes of sudden death are myocardial infarction, myocarditis, conduction abnormalities, etc.…”

The 12‐lead electrocardiogram of the elite female footballer as defined by different interpretation criteria across the competitive season

“…The effect of seasonal variance in training load on PPS outcomes, and its associated tests (ECG), have received little attention in female athletes. Athletes with high training volumes have demonstrated an increase in left ventricular mass, volume and wall thickness with increased training load (Cabanelas, Freitas, & Gonçalves, 2013; D'Ascenzi et al, 2015; Weiner & Baggish, 2012). Whether variations in training exposure cause alterations in the athlete's ECG is not clear and could have implications for PPS outcomes.…”