Evaluation of a Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening Program Among 1,686 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Athletes: Comparison of the Seattle, Refined, and International Electrocardiogram Screening Criteria

To: (1) analyze the results of 5 years of preparticipation cardiac screening including 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes; and (2) assess the rates of ECG screening abnormalities and false-positive rates among 3 ECG screening criteria.

Retrospective chart review.

National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I University.

One thousand six hundred eighty-six first-year athletes presenting for their preparticipation examination including 12-lead resting ECG.

At the completion of the study period, all ECGs were retrospectively reviewed using the Seattle, Refined, and International Criteria.

(1) Prevalence of pathologic cardiac conditions identified by screening; and (2) number of ECG screening abnormalities by criteria.

Three athletes (0.2%) were found to have conditions that are associated with sudden cardiac death. Retrospective review of ECGs using Seattle, Refined, and International criteria revealed an abnormal ECG rate of 3.0%, 2.1%, and 1.8%, respectively. International criteria [odds ratios (OR), 0.58; P = 0.02] demonstrated a lower false-positive rate compared with the Seattle criteria. There was no significant difference in false-positive rates between the Seattle and Refined (OR, 0.68; P = 0.09) or the International and Refined criteria (OR, 0.85; P = 0.5).

There was a low rate of significant cardiac pathology in this population, and no athletes were permanently restricted from play as a result of screening. Our results suggest that the International criteria have the lowest false-positive rate of athlete-specific ECG criteria, and thus, it is the preferred method for preparticipation ECG screening in NCAA athletes.