Evidence for efficacy of the Italian national pre-participation screening programme for identification of
Antonio Pelliccia1, Fernando M Di Paolo, Domenico Corrado
1Institute of Sports Medicine and Science, Italian National Olympic Committee, Via dei Campi Sportivi, 46, 00197 Rome, Italy. ant.pelliccia@libero.it
European Heart Journal
|July 13, 2006
Summary
The Italian pre-participation screening program effectively identifies hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in young athletes using ECGs, preventing sudden cardiac death. Routine echocardiography is not essential for this screening process.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
- Effective screening strategies are crucial for early identification and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the Italian pre-participation screening program for identifying HCM in young athletes.
- To determine if 12-lead ECG, history, and physical examination are sufficient for HCM screening.
Main Methods:
- A systematic pre-participation screening was conducted on 4450 Italian national team athletes.
- Athletes underwent clinical and echocardiographic examinations to detect previously undetected HCM.
- Follow-up included genetic analysis and clinical observation for borderline cases.
Main Results:
- None of the 4450 athletes initially screened showed clinical evidence of HCM.
- 12 athletes had other cardiac abnormalities; 4 had borderline left ventricular wall thickness.
- HCM was definitively or possibly diagnosed in 2 athletes after follow-up.
Conclusions:
- The Italian pre-participation screening program, including 12-lead ECG, is effective in identifying young athletes with HCM.
- Routine echocardiography is not deemed necessary for broad-based screening programs targeting HCM in young athletes.
