Cardiovascular Screening Of Athletes: Focused Exam, Electrocardiograms, And Limited Echocardiograms

The incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes is estimated to occur at a frequency of 1/200,000 athletes per year [.1]. It is postulated that intense exercise predisposes the competitive athlete with previously undetected cardiac disease to lethal rhythm disturbances, and that the risk can be diminished if the athlete is withheld from sports participation.