Cardiovascular Screening in the U.S. Military: Time to Reconsider the Electrocardiogram
Abstract
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has adopted a model concept of the warrior athlete. Identifying latent disease that could compromise the military operator is critical to the warrior athlete concept. Cardiovascular complaints are the important problem recognized in service members evacuated from combat zones, and the incidence of sudden cardiac death in U.S. military recruits is comparable to or greater than that among National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes. Nevertheless, the mandatory electrocardiogram (ECG) was removed from official U.S. military accession screening policy in 2002. Inclusion of ECG screening in high risk athletics is increasingly recognized as appropriate by professional organizations such as the American Heart Association and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, though neither recommends ECG for generalized screening in large, low-risk populations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 17, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1093/milmed/usaa002
Entities
People
- Charles Magee
- Mark C. Haigney
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- United States Department of Defense
- University of Virginia