Screen teens for heart risk - conference
Friday May 9th, 2014
Teenagers and young adults could successfully be screened for risk of sudden cardiac death, a conference heard yesterday.
A
screening programme would cost £35 a person, according to a study
at St George's College at the University of London, UK.
The problem is responsible for high profile deaths and illnesses affecting sportspeople - but can affect many other young people, according to the researchers.
They unveiled their work at a European conference on heart disease prevention in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, yesterday.
A study involved screening some 12,000 young people, of which 13% were elite athletes.
The screening test involved an electrocardiogram, a questionnaire and a consultation with a cardiologist.
About 9.4% of those screened went on to undergo echocardiography and 323 were referred for further assessment.
The programme led to 31 people being identified as having heart issues - most commonly irregular heart rhythm, heart valve problems and heart block.
Researcher Dr Rajay Narain said: "Most developed countries have the potential for creating an infrastructure in high schools similar to established immunisation programmes.
"There is evidence that teachers, coaches and even volunteering parents could be trained in ECGs. The incentive is prudent - 25–30% of the population in the Western world is now aged 18 or under."
He added: "Fortunately the incidence of sudden cardiac disease, especially in people doing sports, is low, so several thousand athletes have to be assessed to identify the one who might die suddenly. But despite their rarity, such events are highly visible, particularly when high-profile athletes are involved.
"The cardiac arrest of the footballer Fabrice Muamba last year is just one example of the societal impact of such tragedies."
Tags: Europe | Fitness | Heart Health | Infancy to Adolescence | UK News
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