Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Screening

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Screening

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes. HCM is frequently asymptomatic until SCD, and thus its prevention requires screening. Screening by medical history and physical exam are ineffective, indicating heart abnormalities in only 3% of patients who subsequently suffered SCD. However, HCM can be detected with 80%+ accuracy by echocardiograms, which may be combined with pre-screening by electrocardiograms (ECGs). Routine cardiac screening of athletes has been implemented in Italy since the 1970s, and has resulted in an 89% drop in cases of SCD among screened athletes. In the United States, the American Heart Association has "consistently opposed" such routine screening. (See (Sanghavi 2009) for a popular summary of literature and discussion). However certain chapters of the American College of Cardiology are backing screening models provided by private entities and nonprofit organizations.

Read more about Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Screening:  Description, Athlete's Heart Vs. HCM, Screening and Diagnosis, Successful Models of Intervention Using ECG