World netball cardiac screening guidelines

Area of Science:

• Sports Cardiology
• Exercise Medicine
• Athletic Health

Background:

• Sudden cardiac adverse events are a significant concern in sports.
• The exact risk for netball athletes is not well-defined, with general sports incidence at 0.5-2 per 100,000 athletes (ages 12-35).
• Cardiac screening aims to detect conditions that increase risk during physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the need for standardized cardiac screening in netball.
• To outline the World Netball (WN) commissioned cardiac screening policy.
• To enhance the safety and welfare of netball players.

Main Methods:

• World Netball (WN) established a cardiac screening policy on March 13, 2022.
• The minimum recommended pre-participation medical assessment (PPMA) includes a medical history, physical examination, and a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG).
• ECG interpretation should follow athlete-specific criteria.

Main Results:

• A standardized minimum PPMA protocol has been established by World Netball.
• The policy emphasizes the importance of athlete-specific ECG interpretation.
• Focus on expanding sports cardiology expertise and emergency preparedness.

Conclusions:

• The new WN policy provides a framework for cardiac screening in netball.
• Implementing standardized screening and emergency response aims to reduce sudden cardiac events.
• Safeguarding athlete health and player welfare is the primary objective.