Screening for Sudden Cardiac Death Before Participation in High School and Collegiate Sports

Publication Date: July 1, 2013
Last Updated: March 14, 2022

Recommendations of the NHLBI Working Group

Epidemiology and etiology of SCDY
  • Develop an SCDY registry to prospectively estimate the incidence of SCDY.
  • Perform case–control studies using registry-defined cases to identify risk factors for SCDY.
Performance of the screening methodology in the target population
  • Perform pilot ECG screening studies to test the characteristics of the ECG in target populations.
  • Perform comparative effectiveness studies to determine the incremental value of various screening methodologies, including history and physical examination, ECG, echocardiogram, and genetic testing.
Management of asymptomatic heart disease identified by ECG screening
  • Develop evidence-based management strategies for asymptomatic patients.
  • Evaluate risk stratification, prevention, and therapeutic strategies.
  • Use novel study designs and innovative recruitment strategies when studying low-prevalence diseases
Impact of a screening program
  • Evaluate the impact of a screening program on individuals and families using quality-of-life studies and patient-preference measurements.
  • Use decision analysis to evaluate overall effectiveness of a screening program, as well as cost and resource utilization.
Other resources to facilitate research
  • Redefine the diagnostic criteria for the long-QT syndrome in the genetic era.
  • Define ECG norms in the U.S. population, taking into account demographic variability.

SCDY, screening for sudden cardiac death in the young

Recommendation Grading

Overview

Title

Screening for Sudden Cardiac Death Before Participation in High School and Collegiate Sports

Authoring Organization

American College of Preventive Medicine

Endorsing Organization

American College of Cardiology

Publication Month/Year

July 1, 2013

Last Updated Month/Year

January 12, 2023

Document Type

Consensus

External Publication Status

Published

Country of Publication

US

Inclusion Criteria

Adolescent, Adult

Health Care Settings

Ambulatory, Hospital, School

Intended Users

Athletics coaching, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Assessment and screening, Prevention

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D016757 - Death, Sudden, Cardiac

Keywords

sudden cardiac death, sports participation

Source Citation

Mahmood, S., Lim, L., Akram, Y., Alford-Morales, S., & Sherin, K. (2013). Screening for Sudden Cardiac Death Before Participation in High School and Collegiate Sports. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 45(1), 130–133. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.04.002