Systematic echocardiography is not efficacious when screening an ethnically diverse cohort of athletes in West Asia
Key result
Systematic echocardiography alongside ECG for athlete screening identified no additional cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in isolation, whereas an ECG-led protocol reduced total costs by 47%.
Why the study?
Does systematic echocardiography alongside ECG improve the identification of sudden cardiac death disease and cost-effectiveness in athletes undergoing pre-participation screening?
Population
1,628 ethnically diverse athletes in West Asia undergoing pre-participation screening
Comparison
Systematic echocardiography alongside 12-lead… vs ECG-led screening programme with ECHO reserved…
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
ECG-led screening may suffice without missing isolated HCM; leaves open prospective trials to confirm safety and cost savings.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=1,628)
Structured PICO
Does systematic echocardiography alongside ECG improve the identification of sudden cardiac death disease and cost-effectiveness in athletes undergoing pre-participation screening?
P
Population
1,628 ethnically diverse athletes in West Asia undergoing pre-participation screening with ECG and systematic echocardiography.
E
Exposure
Systematic echocardiography (ECHO) alongside 12-lead ECG and cardiological consultation
C
Comparator
ECG-led screening programme with ECHO reserved as a follow-up examination
O
Outcome
Identification of sudden cardiac death (SCD) disease and cost of screening
Systematic echocardiography during pre-participation screening in athletes does not increase the diagnostic yield for sudden cardiac death-associated diseases over an ECG-led approach and significantly increases costs.
Cite This Study
Riding et al. (2013) conducted an observational in Pre-participation screening in athletes (n=1,628). Systematic echocardiography (ECHO) alongside ECG vs. ECG-led programme (ECHO reserved as follow-up) was evaluated on Identification of sudden cardiac death (SCD) disease and cost per diagnosis. Systematic echocardiography alongside ECG for athlete screening identified no additional cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in isolation, whereas an ECG-led protocol reduced total costs by 47%.