ECG can prevent sudden death in young athletes

A team at the University of Washington conducted a study to test the efficacy of Electrocardiography test as a screening method to pinpoint heart problems in healthy young sports men and women, Press TV reported.

Electrocardiography also known as ECG or EKG is a diagnostic tool that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart in exquisite detail.

Scientists conducted ECGs on 586 of the participants based on their medical history and family history.

They managed to identify 6 athletes, who had a hidden heart disorder called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The condition is known as the most common cause of sudden death in athletes.

Half of the cases with heart problems which could potentially cause sudden cardiac death were detected by using EKG alone, said lead researcher Dr. Jessie Fudge in the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine news release.

“[EKG] screening, when interpreted with modern criteria for youth athletes, provides better sensitivity and specificity compared to current screening guidelines,” Fudge added.

“The addition of [EKG] screening to the pre-participation exam may better identify athletes at risk for sudden cardiac death.”