[Race against sudden death : the benefits of pre-participation cardiovascular screening]

Sudden death (SD) in young, apparently healthy athletes under 35 is an underestimated public health problem in Belgium. This is dramatically illustrated by the case of a 28-year old ultra-trail runner who suffered cardiac arrest during training, revealing an unrecognized cardiomyopathy. This highlights the importance of pre-participation cardiovascular screening in identifying such hidden conditions. The variety of causes of SD, mainly of cardiac origin, underlines the complexity of screening and the need to tailor it to the specific risks of each individual. The central issue in screening is the relevance of the resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). While some countries have adopted it with positive results, others continue to debate its systematic inclusion. Sudden death affects not only professional athletes, but also amateurs, who are often less medically monitored. The aim of cardiovascular screening is twofold: to identify young people at risk, while not unnecessarily limiting access to sport for those with no cardiac pathology. The effectiveness of the ECG is well recognized, but the implementation of such systematic screening in Belgium must take into account certain practical aspects.