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Cardiovascular Pre-participation Screening in Children and Adolescents
Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo
Summary
Sports participation is strongly encouraged in children and adolescents, but intense training at early ages may reveal hidden heart conditions that increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Pre-participation evaluation aims to identify these conditions before sports practice. This observational study will evaluate children and adolescents enrolled in the São Paulo Olympic Program (Programa São Paulo Olímpico). All participants will undergo a structured medical interview, a standardized physical examination and a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Participants with borderline ECG findings, warning symptoms, abnormal physical examination findings or a suggestive personal or family history will also undergo a 3-minute step test (Harvard step test) with continuous ECG recording during exercise and recovery, in order to detect exercise-induced arrhythmias. The main goal is to estimate the prevalence of potentially pathological ECG findings in this population. The study will also describe warning signs in the medical history, abnormal physical examination findings, step test results, and the referrals and confirmed diagnoses during follow-up.
Official title: Cardiovascular Pre-participation Evaluation With Physical Examination, Resting Electrocardiogram and Step Test in Children and Adolescents of the São Paulo Olympic Program: a Prospective Observational Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
5 Years - 17 Years
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
334
Start Date
2027-02
Completion Date
2027-12-22
Last Updated
2026-10-07
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Pre-participation clinical evaluation
Structured cardiovascular medical history and standardized physical examination.
Diagnostic Test: Resting 12-lead electrocardiogram
Resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) analyzed independently by two blinded sports cardiologists.
Diagnostic Test: Step test (Harvard step test)
3-minute continuous step test with electrocardiogram (ECG) recording during exercise and recovery, performed only in participants with borderline ECG findings, warning symptoms, abnormal physical examination or suggestive personal or family history.
Locations (1)
Heart Institute
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil