Sudden cardiac death screening in adolescent
athletes: an evaluation of compliance with national guidelines
athletes: an evaluation of compliance with national guidelines
Madsen NL, Drezner JA, and
Salerno JC. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47:172-177.
Salerno JC. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47:172-177.
Take Home Message: Less than half of physicians reported understanding the national guidelines for cardiovascular screening among athletes but even among those who reported an awareness of the guidelines many did not implement them.
The current gold-standard of
screening high school athletes for sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the use of
preparticipation physical evaluations (PPE). While the use of PPE’s is the
gold-standard, it is not required before athletic participation is allowed.
Further, it is unknown to what degree providers are in compliance with national
consensus guidelines, in particular those put forth by the American Heart Association (AHA). Therefore, Madsen and colleagues evaluated in
Washington state the state-wide awareness and compliance with the 2007 American Heart Association consensus guidelines on cardiovascular screening among athletes. The authors invited all members from the
Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (776 members) and
Washington Academy of Family Physicians (990 members) to participate in the
study. High-school athletic directors in Washington state were also contacted
through the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Surveys
distributed to the medical organizations evaluated numerous aspects of PPE
including, presence of a clinic-specific PPE form knowledge of the AHA
cardiovascular screening guidelines, if they use the 12 elements of the AHA
guidelines, and willingness to support a statewide universal PPE form. Surveys
distributed to athletic directors included evaluation of presence of a school
mandated or recommended PPE form satisfaction with the PPE, awareness of the
AHA guidelines, and willingness to support a statewide universal PPE form.
Additionally all contacted individuals were asked to provide a copy of any PPE
forms which they use. Response rate from the three groups ranged from 56%
(family physicians) to 78% (athletic directors). Overall, 47% of physicians,
and 6% of athletic directors reported an understanding of the AHA guidelines,
however only 5.7% of physicians were always in compliance. Physicians who
reported an understanding of the AHA guidelines were more likely to be
compliant with those guidelines. Additionally, 95% of physicians and 66% of
athletic directors indicated a willingness to adopt a standard, statewide PPE
screening high school athletes for sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the use of
preparticipation physical evaluations (PPE). While the use of PPE’s is the
gold-standard, it is not required before athletic participation is allowed.
Further, it is unknown to what degree providers are in compliance with national
consensus guidelines, in particular those put forth by the American Heart Association (AHA). Therefore, Madsen and colleagues evaluated in
Washington state the state-wide awareness and compliance with the 2007 American Heart Association consensus guidelines on cardiovascular screening among athletes. The authors invited all members from the
Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (776 members) and
Washington Academy of Family Physicians (990 members) to participate in the
study. High-school athletic directors in Washington state were also contacted
through the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. Surveys
distributed to the medical organizations evaluated numerous aspects of PPE
including, presence of a clinic-specific PPE form knowledge of the AHA
cardiovascular screening guidelines, if they use the 12 elements of the AHA
guidelines, and willingness to support a statewide universal PPE form. Surveys
distributed to athletic directors included evaluation of presence of a school
mandated or recommended PPE form satisfaction with the PPE, awareness of the
AHA guidelines, and willingness to support a statewide universal PPE form.
Additionally all contacted individuals were asked to provide a copy of any PPE
forms which they use. Response rate from the three groups ranged from 56%
(family physicians) to 78% (athletic directors). Overall, 47% of physicians,
and 6% of athletic directors reported an understanding of the AHA guidelines,
however only 5.7% of physicians were always in compliance. Physicians who
reported an understanding of the AHA guidelines were more likely to be
compliant with those guidelines. Additionally, 95% of physicians and 66% of
athletic directors indicated a willingness to adopt a standard, statewide PPE
This study presents an interesting
look into the understanding and implementation of PPEs. Overall, less than half
of the physicians reported understanding the AHA guidelines but even among
physicians who reported an awareness of the AHA guidelines many did not
implement them. While it was not the purpose of the study, it would be
interesting to gain a better understanding of why there is a lack of
implementation. Conceivably, if we can understand the reason why these
guidelines are not implemented then we could initiate efforts to enact change.
Regardless of this missing information, the results suggest that physicians and
athletic administrators need to be better educated on the guidelines and the
significance of implementing them. Education about guidelines may be important
beyond guidelines related to PPE since this is not the only study to suggest
that the current guidelines are not being implemented. Other sources indicate that over 60% of pediatric neurologists do not use the
current concussion guideline for clinical practice. It may be critical for
clinicians in sports medicine to be more proactive about educating physicians
and other healthcare providers in our local community about the current
guidelines related to sports medicine. Another possibility for PPEs may be to adopt
statewide PPE forms to promote implementation and compliance. Tell us what you
think. As clinicians are you aware of the AHA guidelines? If so, are all
guidelines and standards implemented? Why or why not?
look into the understanding and implementation of PPEs. Overall, less than half
of the physicians reported understanding the AHA guidelines but even among
physicians who reported an awareness of the AHA guidelines many did not
implement them. While it was not the purpose of the study, it would be
interesting to gain a better understanding of why there is a lack of
implementation. Conceivably, if we can understand the reason why these
guidelines are not implemented then we could initiate efforts to enact change.
Regardless of this missing information, the results suggest that physicians and
athletic administrators need to be better educated on the guidelines and the
significance of implementing them. Education about guidelines may be important
beyond guidelines related to PPE since this is not the only study to suggest
that the current guidelines are not being implemented. Other sources indicate that over 60% of pediatric neurologists do not use the
current concussion guideline for clinical practice. It may be critical for
clinicians in sports medicine to be more proactive about educating physicians
and other healthcare providers in our local community about the current
guidelines related to sports medicine. Another possibility for PPEs may be to adopt
statewide PPE forms to promote implementation and compliance. Tell us what you
think. As clinicians are you aware of the AHA guidelines? If so, are all
guidelines and standards implemented? Why or why not?
Written by: Kyle Harris
Reviewed by: Jeffrey Driban
Related Posts:
Madsen NL, Drezner JA, & Salerno JC (2013). Sudden cardiac death screening in adolescent athletes: an evaluation of compliance with national guidelines. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47 (3), 172-7 PMID: 23118118