Young athletes should be routinely tested for heart abnormalities to prevent sudden cardiac death triggered by vigorous exercise, using a simple protocol, which includes a heart trace (electrocardiogram or ECG).
Sudden cardiac death is the most common cause of death in young athletes, but exactly how common is unknown as figures vary considerably and there is no mandatory reporting.
Screening for silent but potentially deadly heart abnormalities in athletes before they embark on a career in competitive sports, known as preparticipation cardiovascular screening or PPS for short, has been the subject of considerable debate.
This was re-ignited in 2005, with the publication of a common European protocol – the Lausanne recommendations – which advocate taking a personal and medical history, a physical examination and an ECG for every young competitive athlete.
But critics claim that there are too many population differences between countries for these recommendations to be universally relevant and that ECGs pick up too many ‘normal irregularities’ induced by the body’s adaptation to the demands of competitive sports – sparking unnecessary alarm and needless investigations.
Source: British Journal of Sports Medicine