Preparticipation cardiac screening in athletes: still a diamond in the rough? - Summary - MDSpire

Preparticipation cardiac screening in athletes: still a diamond in the rough?

  • By

  • Aaron Baggish

  • October 14, 2025

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To discuss the importance and implications of preparticipation screening (PPS) for cardiovascular disease in competitive athletes, including potential impacts on athlete safety and health outcomes.

Key Findings:
  • 7.6% of athletes required second line evaluation after PPS.
  • 0.34% of examinations were classified as having high-risk cardiovascular conditions, with prevalence increasing with age.
  • Abnormal ECG rates varied significantly among physicians, from 0% to 7.1%.
  • Costs of PPS and second line evaluations were age-dependent, ranging from €60 for young athletes to €107 for those 35 and older.
Interpretation:

The study highlights the variability and importance of PPS practices, emphasizing the need for data-driven refinements and transparent reporting to improve clinical outcomes, potentially through standardized protocols.

Limitations:
  • No links between abnormal test results and final diagnoses were provided, limiting the assessment of sensitivity and specificity, which affects the reliability of the findings.
  • The majority of abnormal findings were attributed to minor issues or previous COVID infections, raising questions about their clinical significance and relevance to athlete health.
Conclusion:

Continued evaluation of PPS practices is essential for optimizing clinical benefits and resource utilization, supported by robust data sets, and should include regular updates to protocols based on emerging evidence.

Original Source(s)

Preparticipation cardiac screening in athletes: still a diamond in the rough?

  • by Aaron Baggish

  • October 14, 2025

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