Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Cardiol. Apr 26, 2026; 18(4): 115942
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v18.i4.115942
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v18.i4.115942
Electrocardiogram screening in adolescent athletes - evaluating clinical protocols, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness a systemic literature review
Taner Bayram Celebi, Family Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, United States
Scott M Landman, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Northwell Health, Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, Forest Hills, NY 11375, United States
Joseph P Hayes, Amgad N Makaryus, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, United States
Amgad N Makaryus, Northwell and Northwell Cardiovascular Institute, New Hyde Park, NY 11042, United States
Author contributions: Celebi TB drafted the manuscript; Celebi TB, Landman SM, Hayes JP, and Makaryus AN designed the study, and performed the research. All authors reviewed and approved the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Amgad N Makaryus, MD, Professor, Northwell and Northwell Cardiovascular Institute, 2000 Marcus Avenue, Suite 300, New Hyde Park, NY 11042, United States. amakaryu@northwell.edu
Received: October 29, 2025
Revised: December 22, 2025
Accepted: February 6, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 167 Days and 10.7 Hours
Revised: December 22, 2025
Accepted: February 6, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 167 Days and 10.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This review evaluates the role of electrocardiogram screening in preventing sudden cardiac death among adolescent athletes, emphasizing diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and international policy differences. By comparing American and European screening models, we highlight the balance between sensitivity, feasibility, and resource utilization. Advances such as standardized electrocardiogram interpretation criteria and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis may improve detection accuracy while reducing false positives and financial burden. These insights underscore the potential for evidence-based, equitable, and efficient cardiovascular screening strategies in young athletes.