The Use of Echocardiograms in Preparticipation Examinations

Sudden cardiac death in sports: could we save Pheidippides?

Hereditary diseases under the age of 35 are the most common underlying heart disease, leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD) in competitive sports, while in older people, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) is the main cause. The following preventive measures are recommended: (a) The pre-participation cardiovascular screening, (b) the genetic testing, (c) the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), (d) the prohibition of doping in sports, (e) the prevention of 'exercise-induced' cardiac complications, (f) the reduction of high-risk factors for CAD, and (g) the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The cost-effectiveness of the electrocardiograms in the pre-participation screening programs remains questionable. Genetic testing is recommended in borderline cases and positive family history. Athletes with ICD can, under certain conditions, participate in competitive sports. Excessive endurance exercise appears to harm the endothelium, promotes inflammatory processes and leads to fibrosis in the myocardium, and calcium deposition in the coronary vessels. Cardiac arrest may be reversed if cardiopulmonary resuscitation is performed and a defibrillator is immediately used. Thus, equipping all fields with automatic external defibrillators are recommended.

Feasibility and Reliability of Nonexpert POCUS for Cardiovascular Preparticipation Screening of Varsity Athletes: The SHARP Protocol

BACKGROUND

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a potential adjunctive cardiovascular preparticipation screening modality for young competitive athletes. A novel cardiac POCUS screening protocol, Screening the Heart of the Athlete Research Program (SHARP), was developed for nonexpert examiners to assess common structural etiologies associated with sudden cardiac arrest/death (SCA/D).

METHODS

Assessment of primary outcomes of feasibility, and reliability of obtained measurements, performed by comparison to formal transthoracic echocardiogram was undertaken. Inter-rater reliability was based on Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) defined as moderate for 0.40 to 0.59, good for 0.60 to 0.79, and excellent for 0.80 or greater. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were also obtained. Identification of disease or other abnormalities was a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Fifty varsity athletes at our institution underwent the SHARP protocol, with 19 undergoing formal transthoracic echocardiogram and ECG for comparison. POCUS image quality was good to excellent. Feasibility of assessing for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic root dilatation, and left-ventricular function was deemed highly possible but limited in 20% for right-ventricular assessment. Reliability was good for measurements of interventricular septal thickness (0.67), end diastolic left-ventricular diameter (0.61), aortic root diameter (0.63), and moderate for left-ventricular posterior wall thickness (0.42). No cardiovascular abnormalities were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel, comprehensive SHARP POCUS protocol performed by nonexpert practitioners demonstrated feasibility and reliability to assess varsity level athletes for common structural etiologies associated with SCA/D. Further large athlete screening cohort studies are required to validate the SHARP protocol and the role of cardiac POCUS as a screening modality.