Rewarding twenty-year experience with initial and repeat EKG and echocardiographic screening for prevention of sudden death in detecting abnormal findings.

Abstract

Background: To further analyze the impacts, findings, and modalities of multiple cardiac screenings to answer the question - are multiple screens necessary and useful in youth?

Methods: Over 20 years, the Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF) has offered free and low-cost cardiac screenings to youth and their families nationwide. The volunteer force has provided blood pressure, and ultrasound tests to participants throughout the 20 years. After year 7, electrocardiograms were added to the screening.

Results: Over the 20 years, ABF abnormal findings held steady between 10 - 13%, with Potential Life-Threatening (PLT) findings at 2.5%. The participants that have experienced multiple screening tests on average would repeat within 2.5 years, have abnormal findings at 31.84%, PLT at 11.43%, and total echocardiography-related abnormal findings at 16.82%. The variance between male and female attendance by age is also noted during the review of ABF repeat screened data. Male attendance was at 59.65% and female 40.35%. The abnormality rate of males for the first visit was 10.9% followed by the second visit of 18.80%. The abnormality rate of females for the first visit was 12.22% followed by the second visit of 17.09%. A detailed analysis of abnormal findings is presented in this manuscript.

Conclusions: Cardiac screening involving multiple repeated screenings appears to be effective in detecting increasing numbers of abnormal findings that can be lifesaving.