Ebook: Interpretation of the Electrocardiogram of Young Athletes

American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011;124:746-757 - p. 747-757Sudden cardiac death in a young athlete is a tragic and high-profile event. The best way to prevent such deaths is, however, highly debated. The Italian experience informed the European recommendation for the inclusion of a 12-lead ECG in screening tests for all athletes.1,2 Although American authors have acknowledged the possible benefits of such an approach, many have expressed concern over the portability of such a model to the US healthcare system. Concern has
focused in particular on the idea of mandatory testing, cost effectiveness, the availability of practitioners qualified to interpret ECGs, and the burden of false-positive results.