Background:
Every year cardiac related deaths occur spontaneously and undiagnosed. Although they are not common these sudden cardiac deaths, SCD, actually occur more often in athletes. According to the article “Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes” from the Journal of Internal Medicine, the fact that SCD occurs 2-3 times more often in athletes than non-athletes is not surprising considering the workload that excessive exertion adds to the heart. Adding excess workload on a heart with an undiagnosed heart defect or abnormality is exactly what causes these SCD’s in younger adults; however, coronary artery disease with exercise is what causes SCD in people over 35. These deaths could possibly be prevented if mandatory electrocardiogram, EKG, screenings along with the required yearly physical examination were mandatory, and that is what the article is trying to persuade the reader of.
The article talks about how this problem could possibly become worse in the near future due to the large amount of the population being “baby boomers” and the encouragement of national initiatives to be more physically active. This increased amount of older adults who are being encouraged to be more active and who will, according to the article, be less in shape is only going to increase these SCD related events. With proper screening of these athletes and regular exercisers, this could be prevented. Method:
The article suggests that EKG screening cannot detect everything and that people with supposedly “healthy hearts” may need genetic testing. But for now their main priority includes the annual resting EKG screening to determine if an abnormality is present. The EKG can detect cardiomyopathy, valve disease, and electrophysiological disorders. They also suggest having a backup plan of having all necessary equipment available at sporting events such as a defibrillator and personnel trained in Advanced Cardiac Life support/ CPR. Along with the annual physical exam, the EKG will help prevent undiagnosed and unnecessary cardiac deaths.
The article bases their idea from Italy’s already mandated cardiac screening that has been in effect for 30 years. From 1970- 2000 Italy monitored all athletes from 13-14 years of age. The article stated that Italy reduced its SCD events from 4 to 0.4 per 100,000. The AHA and the European Society of cardiology backs the idea of cardiac screening in athletes. The article stated that FIFA (federation international Football Association) and UEFA (Union of European Football Assocation) both use the mandatory cardiac screening along with their mandated physical examinations. So why would the NFL, MLB, NBA and MLS not benefit from these screenings?
Conclusion:
In conclusion the article talks of screening athletes because they are at increased risk, but anyone who regularly exercises as well as non-athletes would all benefit from receiving a yearly cardiac exam as well. Nurses and anyone in the healthcare field could all understand how important a healthy heart is, and they can help promote this idea. All professions and businesses could include this screening in with their required annual physical examination and it could greatly benefit that person’s, as well as the majority of the population’s, life.
, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Sudden cardiac death in athletes. J Intern Med 2014; 275: 93–103.
Schmied, C., & Borjesson, M. (2014). Sudden cardiac death in athletes. Journal of Internal Medicine, 275(2), 93–103. doi:10.1111/joim.12184
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.12184/full
