Athlete Heart Screenings (LEAPS)

Sudden cardiac death is 2.5 times more likely to occur in young athletes than in non-athletes. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, occurs in 1 out of every 500 people.

Young athletes are encouraged to have a pre-participation sports physical that includes a physical exam, a complete health history and family history, a 12-lead EKG screening and, for athletes with an abnormal EKG or family history, an echocardiogram. An exercise test may also be recommended.

To address the growing rate of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, CHOC Sports Medicine collaborates with the CHOC Heart Institute to offer the Life-Threatening Events Associated with Pediatric Sports (LEAPS) program. Our pediatric cardiologists work one-on-one with area schools to:

•    Educate coaches and staff about heart conditions.
•    Offer electrocardiogram (EKG) screenings to identify athletes at risk.
•    Encourage CPR training and the installation of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) near gyms, fields and other sports facilities.

CHOC also hosts a regular conference for Orange County school board members, high school coaches, school nurses, community pediatricians and parents who want to lower the incidence of sudden cardiac death in local teenage athletes.

To learn more, contact the CHOC Heart Institute at 714-509-9319.

In this segment of American Health Journal, Dr. Anjan Batra, CHOC, speaks about heart conditions and preventive measures that can be taken to prevent sudden cardiac death in young athletes.