Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Pre-participation cardiovascular screening among NCAA athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 891
Justin J Conway1,2, Dylan Bennett3, Irfan M Asif4
1Division of Sports Medicine, Crystal Run Healthcare, Newburgh, New York, USA jconway@crystalrunhealthcare.com.
Objective:
To evaluate the outcomes of pre-participation cardiovascular screening among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes and quantify the added value of history and physical exam (H&P) when combined with a screening ECG.
Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Data Sources:
MEDLINE (1946-present), EMBASE (1947-present), PubMed (1966-present) and Cochrane Library (1991-present).
Eligibility Criteria For Selecting Studies:
Peer-reviewed research articles published in English reporting original findings on pre-participation cardiovascular screening outcomes in NCAA athletes.
Results:
18 studies, representing 27 891 NCAA athletes (44.2% female), were included. A total of 66 (0.24%) athletes were diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition associated with serious morbidity or sudden cardiac arrest/death (SCA/D). Wolff-Parkinson-White was the most common diagnosis (n=39, 59.1%), followed by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n=11, 16.7%). Among the eight studies (16 609 athletes) for which the screening performance of ECG and H&P could be extracted separately, ECG screening resulted in a 3.5-fold higher detection rate of true positive cases (number needed to screen (NNS) =475) compared with H&P alone (NNS=1661). The false positive rate for H&P was 17% versus 5% for ECG (p<0.001). The added value of H&P in athletes with a negative ECG was low (NNS=3003).
Conclusion:
ECG screening significantly increases the detection of conditions associated with serious morbidity or SCA/D compared with H&P alone, with H&P providing minimal added value in athletes with a normal ECG. Our findings support the utility of ECG in preparticipation screening for NCAA athletes.
Prospero Registration Number:
CRD42020188308.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT