Cardiac screening in Sport

EMMAATHLETESOne of the aims of our proactive screening programme is to assess cardiac function in athletes via the CRY Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions and Sports Cardiology. The European Society of Cardiology and International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommend cardiac screening for any young person taking part in competitive sport. Sport itself does not lead to cardiac arrest, but can trigger a sudden death by aggravating an undetected cardiac abnormality (see also cardiac-related sudden deaths in sport). In countries such as Italy, screening participants in representative sports is mandatory. In some professions cardiac testing is also mandatory.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus Statement on Periodic Health Evaluation of Elite Athletes March 2009 The scope of the cardiovascular PHE is to detect potentially lethal cardiovascular disease in elite athletes and start appropriate management to reduce the risk for sudden cardiac death and/or disease progression in a timely fashion.

For more information about cardiac testing in sport, please contact the CRY Screening Programme Manager by calling 01737 363 222 or sending an e-mail to ecg@c-r-y.org.uk CRY’s cardiac screening service is already used by:CRYSwim

  • Team GB Olympic and Paralympic athletes with the English Institute of Sport
  • England Rugby Football Union and all Premiership Rugby CLubs
  • Welsh Rugby Union
  • Rugby Football League – Super League and Championship Clubs
  • Lawn Tennis Association
  • England Cricket and County Cricket Clubs
  • Professional road cycling teams
  • Championship Football Clubs
  • ….plus many other elite sports teams and organisations.