Population-based study in athletic and non-athletic populations aged 12-35 yrs (Italy) - 1979-2004
In parallel study examined trends in cardiovascular causes of disqualification from competitive sports in 42 386 athletes undergoing screening in Padua (1982-1992) and (1993-2004)
Outcome measures: incidence of total CV and cause-specific sudden death in screened athletes and unscreened non-athletes
Results
55 deaths in athletes = 1.9 deaths/100 000 per year
256 death in unscreened nonathletes: 0.79/100 00 per year
Conclusion
Systematic PPE programme can significantly decrease mortality, via identification and disqualification of athletes with an underlying and unsuspected cardiomyopathy
Supporting evidence
The decrease in athlete deaths occurred at the same time as the implementation of national screening programme
Reduced mortality was largely due to fewer deaths from cardiomyopathy
Incidence of SCD did not change among the unscreened non-athletic population of the same age