Scientists recommend cardiac screening for young athletes

Clinical laboratories in the US have recommended that cardiac screening of young athletes is undertaken before participation in competitive events.

Research scientists from Saint Luke's Mid America Heart and Vascular Institute, Kansas City, the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Kansas and the University of Kansas screened male and female varsity athletes enrolled at the University.

The team took on the study to gain insight into sudden cardiac death in young athletes which occurs around 60 to 80 times every year in the US.

They collected electrocardiograms and echocardiograms of 964 athletes and found distinct abnormalities in ten per cent, as a result of their findings two people were excluded from competing.

It also found that likelihood of a distinctly abnormal ECG was higher in males and in black athletes.

"These findings offer a framework for performing preparticipation screening in competitive collegiate athletes," commented lead investigator Dr Anthony Magalski from Saint Luke's Mid America Heart and Vascular Institute.