ECG scans in athletes detect irregularities missed by other screening methods

The screenings detected adverse cardiac conditions such as ventricular and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies

Heart Rhythm Society's 30th Annual Scientific Sessions

Results from a study presented at Heart Rhythm 2009 this morning suggested that regular ECG screenings in high-level performing athletes can detect pathophysiology missed during regular history and physical examinations.

Researchers from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville examined relevant data of 1,197 incoming athletes from 2005 to 2008 who participated in the study. Athletes entering the study underwent a 12-lead ECG as part of their pre-participation history and physical examination.

According to the study results, abnormalities detected by ECG included one catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, four accessory pathways, 18 arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies and 73 hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. According to the researchers, the participants with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies all had normal MRIs. In the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, all had normal ECGs.

“Everyone should get a true history and physical, and electrocardiogram screening does find additional pathology that is not found by just receiving a physical,” Srijoy Mahapatra, MD,assistant professor of internal medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, said told Cardiology Today. “If you are a physician and you do electrocardiogram screening, which is probably a good idea, you also have to accept the fact that you are going to have a lot of false positives, and as long as you accept that, you should be fine.”

Mahapatra added that while the screening is expensive, the potential to save lives should to be factored into a decision on whether or not to use ECGs in conjunction with physicals and history examinations.

“We cannot say that this will save money down the road – all we can say is that in the short-term, it probably will protect one in about 1,200 patients according to our series, in which one patient was almost definitely saved and others may have been helped,” Mahapatra said. “You have to remember that these individuals are around 18years-old, and they still have a long time to live, so there is a good chance it would be helpful.” – by Eric Raible

For more information:

Mahapatra S. Poster #PO06-120. Presented at: Heart Rhythm 2009; May 13-16; Boston.