ECG-based Cardiac Screening Programs: Legal, Ethical and Logistical Considerations

Screening asymptomatic people with a resting electrocardiogram (ECG) has been theorised to detect latent cardiovascular disease. However, resting ECG screening is not recommended for numerous populations, such as asymptomatic middle-aged (sedentary) people, as it is not sufficiently sensitive to detect coronary artery disease. While the issues raised in this article are largely common to all screening programs, this review focuses on two distinct programs: (1) screening elite athletes for conditions associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD); and (2) screening people aged ≥65 years for atrial fibrillation (AF).
Source: Heart Rhythm - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research