Determining the Best Way to Prevent Sudden Death in Athletes

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I respectfully disagree with the first comment. Although you (Lisa) may be able to give one example of a child who was not diagnosed with HCM through a screening, I can give you many examples of young adults that have been diagnosed through an EKG screening. I have been fortunate to be part of screenings in my area and have seen hundreds of children that have not only been diagnosed with HCM but a number of other conditions that cause sudden death. If you did your homework, you would realize that over 50% of the cases of sudden death DO NOT have symptoms and/or a family history of sudden death. The best data to support screenings comes from Italy. Their death rate of young adults decreased 85% with EKG screenings. Why should our students not have this available.
Lisa, let me ask you a question - Mammograms and pap smears do not catch all cases of cancer. Do you get your yearly examines? Should we stop doing these because we may miss some cases???? No screening will ever catch 100% of the cases of any condition, but we shouldn't stop screening.

mic of IL 12:04AM December 03, 2009

While I would love to agree that a simple ECG would be enough to change the outcomes of those who dies suddenly from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that does not appear to be the case. In a recent case a young man was screened with ECG and echo - results were read as normal... he died in his sleep within 7 months of the tests.
This is but one case, there have been others. We need families to better understand and report history of heart disease, cardiac professionals to evaluate cases - hands on - not just reading reports and we need to ensure that all Americans are ready willing and able to do hands only CPR and use AED's in a timely manner when cardiac arrest happens.
To learn more about HCM and sudden cardiac arrest visit the HCMA website at www.4hcm.org

Lisa Salberg of NJ 10:31AM November 12, 2009

awesome this is very intresting

bob of MO 12:46PM November 09, 2009

A properly administered and read ECG will identify "possible" cardiomyopathy about 75% of the time. This small group would then be given an echo cardiogram and a stress test (treadmill). This protocol would be definitive in nearly 100% of subjects.
These measures would probably prevent about 15 - 20 deaths each year among athletes. However, it would also provide early diagnosis of heart issues in dozens of others - resulting in long term reductions in loss of life.
An ECG is very inexpensive and and takes less than 10 minutes. It is a bargain when one considers the benefits of this simple procedure against the terribly costly hysteria of tearing down schools, libraries, hospitals and other public buildings when dealing with inert asbestos, lead paint, mercury etc..

R.L. Schaefer of CA 11:57AM November 09, 2009