The research, conducted in Tel Aviv, Israel, reported that 11 cases of sudden cardiac arrest occurred in athletes between 1985 and 1996, before the law mandated screening of all competitive athletes in 1997. Between 1997 and 2009, there were 13 cases of reported sudden cardiac arrest despite the mandatory screening.
According to a report published in News Chief, male athletes are at three times greater risk than female athletes to experience sudden cardiac arrest during sports. The highest risk sports are basketball and swimming. While there are several different defects that could cause death in athletes, EKGs may only catch some of the problems, according to the report. Others might be caught during exercise stress tests.
Read the abstract from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Read the News Chief report on sudden cardiac arrest in athletes.
Read other coverage on sports medicine:
– 11 Biggest Sports Medicine Trends for 2011
– 8 New Studies Influencing Youth Sports Medicine
– Study: How Baseball Players’ Posture Affects Shoulder Tightness
