Current Practices and Attitudes of Canadian Team Physicians Toward Cardiovascular Preparticipation Screening

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular preparticipation screening is crucial for identifying athletes at risk of sudden cardiac death.
• Current screening practices in Canadian university and major junior hockey lack standardization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess current cardiovascular preparticipation screening practices among team physicians in Canadian hockey.
• To understand physicians' attitudes towards different screening modalities, including electrocardiogram (ECG).

Main Methods:

• A 13-question survey was distributed to lead physicians of Canadian University (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) and Major Junior Hockey (Ontario Hockey League) organizations.
• Response rates were 47% overall, with specific rates for each league.

Main Results:

• 92% of physicians reported performing some form of preparticipation screening.
• Only 22% of physicians currently utilize 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) for screening.
• Significant variability in screening practices was observed both between and within organizations.
• Physicians not using ECG cited lack of evidence (45%) and cost-effectiveness (28%) as primary reasons.

Conclusions:

• Canadian hockey preparticipation screening practices exhibit considerable variability.
• There is a notable underutilization of electrocardiogram screening despite its potential benefits.
• The findings underscore the urgent need for national guidelines to standardize cardiovascular screening in Canadian collegiate and junior hockey.