Pre-participation Cardiac Screening in Young Athletes: Models and Criteria

This is the second of two review articles focusing on the value of preparticipation
cardiac screening in young athletes. The article focuses on the efficacy of the resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), physical examination, and medical history questionnaire, which commonly make up the first stage of a cardiac screening protocol.

The review then focuses on specific structural and electrical abnormalities which are responsible for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes – the most common of which is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The identification of appropriate ‘red flag’ signs and symptoms is essential for teasing out potential pathological conditions
and allowing differentiation from often benign physiological adaptations. The final section provides guidance on how the resting 12-lead ECG can be used to separate pathological from physiological adaptations in young athletes.

http://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/b...