[Screening for heart disease in kids and adolescents (Prevencar Program)]

The objective was to develop a screening for heart disease detection in primary care, to identify pathological electrocardiographic changes and underlying heart disease in adolescents.

The study was carried out for one year using multistage sampling. SITE: Primary care centers in a health area that had digital ECG equipment (12 centers) were selected.

Initially, 718 (16.6%) 14-year-old adolescents were recruited and those with a previous diagnosis of heart disease were excluded.

Screening consisted of including a health questionnaire in the mandatory 14-year-old check-up.

Screening included a questionnaire, cardiac auscultation, ECG and echocardiography. Abnormality criteria were established to refer for a second evaluation by a cardiologist.

Finally, the sample was made up of 698 adolescents, with a mean age of 13.7±0.5 years, and 354 (50.7%) were boys. A total of 149 (21.3%) were selected for a second review by cardiology: 88 (12.6%) due to a positive questionnaire, 11 (2.2%) due to abnormal cardiac auscultation, and 66 (9.5%) due to ECG findings. Adolescents with evidence of heart disease were 24 (3.4%). Of these, 14 (2.0%) had suggestive alterations and follow-up was recommended, 6 (0.9%) had a definitive diagnosis of heart disease, and 4 (0.6%) had other pathological findings related to the cardiovascular system.

The screening allowed us to identify 1% of adolescents with heart disease and another 2% will remain in follow-up. The ECG detected more pathological cases than the questionnaire.