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Pre-participation cardiovascular screening: is community screening using hand-held cardiac ultrasound feasible?

Echo Research & Practice volume 2, pages 49–55 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

We evaluated the feasibility and costs of utilising hand-held cardiac ultrasound (HHCU) as part of a community-based pre-participation cardiovascular screening programme. Ninety-seven school children were screened using a personal history, a physical examination, a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and a HHCU. A consultant cardiologist independently reviewed and reported the data. Previously undiagnosed cardiovascular abnormalities were identified in nine participants (9%). An additional three participants (3%) were diagnosed with hypertension. The nine abnormalities were identified at a cost of £460 per finding, with a cost of £43 per participant screened. The marginal cost of adding a HHCU to the personal history, physical examination and ECG was £16 per participant. Pre-participation screening in the community using hand-held echocardiography is practical and inexpensive. The additional sensitivity and specificity provided by the ultrasound may enhance screening programmes, thereby reducing false positives and the need for expensive follow-up testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Jersey International Centre for Advanced Studies, Jersey General Hospital, Gloucester Street, St Helier, JE1 3QS, Channel Islands, Jersey, UK

    A. R. J. Mitchell BM MD FRCP FESC FACC, R. Hurry MB ChB LLB (Hons) Dip IMC RCS Ed MSc Sports Medicine MFSEM (UK), P. Le Page MBBS BSc & H. MacLachlan MB ChB BSc

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  1. A. R. J. Mitchell BM MD FRCP FESC FACC
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  2. R. Hurry MB ChB LLB (Hons) Dip IMC RCS Ed MSc Sports Medicine MFSEM (UK)
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  3. P. Le Page MBBS BSc
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  4. H. MacLachlan MB ChB BSc
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Correspondence to A. R. J. Mitchell BM MD FRCP FESC FACC.

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Mitchell, A.R.J., Hurry, R., Le Page, P. et al. Pre-participation cardiovascular screening: is community screening using hand-held cardiac ultrasound feasible?. Echo Res Pract 2, 49–55 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1530/ERP-15-0010

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/ERP-15-0010

Keywords

  • screening
  • echocardiography
  • athletes
  • community

Echo Research & Practice

ISSN: 2055-0464