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The pre-participation screening in young athletes: which protocol do we need exactly?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2017

İbrahim İ. Çetin ,
Filiz Ekici ,
Ayşe E. Kibar ,
Murat Sürücü  and
Ali Orgun
İbrahim İ. Çetin*
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Ankara Children’s Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Filiz Ekici
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Ankara Children’s Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Ayşe E. Kibar
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Ankara Children’s Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Murat Sürücü
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Ankara Children’s Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Ali Orgun
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Ankara Children’s Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
*
Correspondence to: İ. İ. Çetin, The Head of Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, Ankara Children’s Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ziraat Mah, Kurtdereli Sok, No: 10, Dışkapı, Altındağ 06110, Ankara. Tel: +90 312 5969644; Fax: +90 312 3472330; E-mail: iicetin@hotmail.com
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Abstract

The aim was to assess the utility and feasibility of a comprehensive cardiac screening protocol in young athletes before participation in sports. A total of 380 athletes referring before participation in sports, between April, 2014 and April, 2015, were included in this study. The mean age was 12.4 years. A screening protocol has been applied to all, including personal and family history, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, 24-hour rhythm Holter analysis, and treadmill exercise test. The most frequent complaints were chest pain in 19 (5%), dyspnoea in 13 (3.4%), and dizziness and fainting in five patients (1.3%) on exercise. There was sudden death and arrhythmia in 41 patients (10.7%) owing to family history. Heart murmur was present in 20 (5.2%) and hypertension in 10 patients (2.6%) on physical examination. The 12-lead electrocardiography was abnormal in 9 patients (2.4%). The findings of transthoracic echocardiography were insignificant in 47 patients (12.3%) and in five patients (1.3%) a haemodynamically important condition was detected. The 24-hour rhythm Holter analysis was abnormal in six patients (1.5%). There were significant ST changes in two patients (0.5%) on treadmill exercise test with normal findings on myocardial perfusion scans. No significant relation was present between findings of screening protocol and transthoracic echocardiography, 24-hour rhythm Holter analysis, or treadmill exercise test results.

Pre-participation screening in young athletes should consist of a targeted personal history, family history, physical examination, and 12-lead electrocardiography. Other tests should be applied only if the screening indicates the presence of a cardiovascular disease.

Keywords

Athletechildrenparticipationscreeningsport
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , April 2018 , pp. 536 - 541
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2017 

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