Why the study?
To determine the effect of ECG screening on the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest and death in young athletes and military members.
Does preparticipation examination including ECG screening prevent sudden cardiac arrest and death in young athletes and military members aged ≤40 years?
Population
11 689 172 athletes or military members aged ≤40 years across 4 nonrandomized studies
Comparison
Preparticipation examination including ECG vs no screening, usual care, or preparticipation examination without ECG
Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis of nonrandomized studies
Key result
ECG screening in young athletes and military members showed an inconclusive effect on sudden cardiac death risk (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.23-1.45), based on very low-quality evidence with high bias.
Authors
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ECG screening benefits remain uncertain in young athletes; leaves open the value of routine use pending higher-quality trials.
Meta-Analysis (n=11,689,172)
Does preparticipation examination including ECG screening prevent sudden cardiac arrest and death in young athletes and military members aged ≤40 years?
Relative Risk: 0.58 (95% CI 0.23–1.45)
Absolute Risk Reduction: 0.0016%
Existing evidence for the effect of ECG screening on preventing sudden cardiac death in young athletes and military members is of very low quality and inconclusive.
Lear et al. (2021) conducted a meta-analysis in Sudden cardiac arrest and death (n=11,689,172). Electrocardiogram (ECG) screening vs. No screening, usual care, or preparticipation examination without ECG was evaluated on Sudden cardiac death (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.23, 1.45). ECG screening in young athletes and military members showed an inconclusive effect on sudden cardiac death risk (RR 0.58; 95% CI 0.23-1.45), based on very low-quality evidence with high bias.
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