In January 2010, Southern Indiana forward Jeron Lewis collapsed during a basketball game with Kentucky Wesleyan. Lewis died of a heart condition he never knew he had. He was 21 years old.
NCAA Proposes New Screening Criteria
Tragedies like Lewis’ death are not uncommon, especially among student-athletes. Sudden cardiac death is the leading medical cause of death and death during exercise in NCAA student-athletes according to data published in 2011. It accounted for 75% of deaths during exertion and 56% of deaths in medical cases among the 273 total deaths analyzed from 2004 to 2008.
In 2013, the NCAA sponsored their own study to analyze how they could better catch potentially deadly cardiac abnormalities that are often triggered during high-intensity workouts and games associated with being a student-athlete. The study supports the addition of electrocardiogram (ECG) screenings to standard pre-participation exams for athletes.
The study screened more than 2,000 male and female athletes from 14 NCAA Division 1 universities. During the trial, seven athletes were diagnosed with serious cardiac disorders, four of which were upperclassmen.
In addition, the study also applied new international consensus standards for ECG interpretations in order to minimize false-positive results, an issue that can be particularly difficult for trained athletes due to a condition known as “athlete’s heart”.
“Athlete’s heart” results when long-term conditioning alters the cardiac dimensions of the heart. This typically involves an increase in left ventricular mass, and is not dangerous to the athlete. It’s most often seen in long-distance running, swimming, cycling, and rowing/canoeing.
The problem is this can often be confused with an actual heart defect, causing misdiagnoses. However, researchers have indicated several areas to help differentiate between the two including the extent of increase in mass, reduction in mass with deconditioning, and family history.
Protection for Younger Athletes
While the NCAA hopes to require ECGs for college athletes, they are not part of current physical exams for athletes and can be quite expensive for an average family with young athletes in middle and high school.
As pre-screening for potential cardiac issues is not an option for many, physicians emphasize other safety measures that should be in place: AEDs and CPR trained personnel in all schools as a means of preventing death if a cardiac arrest should occur.
It’s equally important that the AED be properly maintained and readily available if needed, not behind locked doors in an office. AEDs are relatively inexpensive and easy to use, and can be the difference in saving a student’s life during cardiac arrest.
Do you feel the NCAA should require ECGs for its student athletes? Is this enough to detect cardiac abnormalities in otherwise healthy young athletes? If you’re an M.D. or D.O. join us inside Sermo for even more discussion.
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