Evaluation of a Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening Program Among 1,686 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Athletes: Comparison of the Seattle, Refined, and International Electrocardiogram Screening Criteria

Objectives: To: (1) analyze the results of 5 years of preparticipation cardiac screening including 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes; and (2) assess the rates of ECG screening abnormalities and false-positive rates among 3 ECG screening criteria. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I University. Participants: One thousand six hundred eighty-six first-year athletes presenting for their preparticipation examination including 12-lead resting ECG. Interventions: At the completion of the study period, all ECGs were retrospectively reviewed using the Seattle, Refined, and International Criteria. Main Outcome Measures: (1) Prevalence of pathologic cardiac conditions identified by screening; and (2) number of ECG screening abnormalities by criteria. Results: Three athletes (0.2%) were found to have conditions that are associated with sudden cardiac death. Retrospective review of ECGs using Seattle, Refined, and International criteria revealed an abnormal ECG rate of 3.0%, 2.1%, and 1.8%, respectively. International criteria [odds ratios (OR), 0.58; P = 0.02] demonstrated a lower false-positive rate compared with the Seattle criteria. There was no significant difference in false-positive rates between the Seattle and Refined (OR, 0.68; P = 0.09) or the International and Refined criteria (OR, 0.85; P = 0.5). Conclusions: There was a low rate of significant cardiac pathology in this population, and no athletes were permanently restricted from play as a result of screening. Our results suggest that the International criteria have the lowest false-positive rate of athlete-specific ECG criteria, and thus, it is the preferred method for preparticipation ECG screening in NCAA athletes.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the results of 5 years of preparticipation cardiac screening among NCAA Division I athletes and found a low rate of significant cardiac pathology. The study also compared the rates of ECG screening abnormalities and false-positive rates among 3 different ECG screening criteria, and found that the International criteria had the lowest false-positive rate.