Testing Athletes' Hearts Saves Lives

[26mi235]

This seems relevant to our sport because cardiac demands are quite high. In addition I seem to recall that such incidents have been mentioned as possibly being the result of PED use.

"If athletes' hearts are tested the number of sudden cardiac deaths related to sports can go down significantly.."

Over the last 24 years they have tested (EKG) all athletes in Italy. About 2% are flagged as having hidden heart problems and cannot particpate.


"Even though the rate of sudden death from heart problems remained constant throughout the period [for the general population], the rate for athletes fell by 89%."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthn ... wsid=53356

"Trends in Sudden Cardiovascular Death in Young Competitive Athletes After Implementation of a Preparticipation Screening Program"
Domenico Corrado, MD, PhD; Cristina Basso, MD, PhD; Andrea Pavei, MD; Pierantonio Michieli, MD, PhD; Maurizio Schiavon, MD; Gaetano Thiene, MD
JAMA Vol. 296 No. 13, October 4, 2006

[Bruce Kritzler]

Rate of athlete heart related deaths fell 89% ?
How many deaths are we talking about? per year?
I'm guessing number is 1 or 2.

[El Toro]

Details are here

[Pego]

Details are here

This is most impressive. To produce this significant reduction in cardiovascular events with a rather simple (inexpensive) screening method is quite surprising.

[dralmorris]

CARDIAC DEATHS

THESE FOLKS SAY YOUNG COMPETITIVE ATHLETES AND THEN THEY USE
ATHLETES IN AGES 12 THRU 35
HECK -- WE NOW CALL 35 YEAR OLDS = MASTERS

[26mi235]

Details are here

This is most impressive. To produce this significant reduction in cardiovascular events with a rather simple (inexpensive) screening method is quite surprising.

This is so surprising that I think that all of the various federations ought to have something like this. HS football has its share of deaths and these could be addressed this way. Eventually, it might be a liability to allow players that have not had the screening because the organization should have done it to prrevent the death and now we are going to sue you........

[polevaultpower]

I had an EKG in my physical at University of Florida. At University of Georgia I got an echocardiogram (I think, it was like a heart ultrasound type thing).

Those were for all the athletes there. I can't speak for other schools, but I would imagine most of the big money football schools do things like that.