Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyMeta-analysis
Population-based screening for conditions associated with juvenile sudden cardiac death: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- systematic review and meta-analysis
- following PRISMA guidelines
- protocol registered in PROSPERO
- random-effects model
Authors' conclusion
Systematic cardiovascular screening may help identify young individuals at increased risk for SCD, providing a potentially meaningful diagnostic yield. However, the absence of long-term data on outcome and cost-effectiveness underscores the need for further research to refine screening protocols, assess sustainability, and inform evidence-based public health policies.
Study context
- Population
- Young individuals undergoing cardiovascular screening in the general youth population, excluding studies exclusively involving competitive athletes; primarily children and adolescents aged 6–19 yearsNineteen studies from multiple countries
- Participants
- 1,079,781 individuals
- Comparison
- electrocardiography alone vs questionnaires alone vs combination of both
- electrocardiography (ECG) alonen = 26.3%
- questionnaires alonen = 5.3%
- combination of bothn = 68.4%
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Overall diagnostic yield for SCD-risk conditions following second- or third-line investigations
Overall diagnostic yield
1.4‰
Diagnostic yield in the meta-analysis
1.9‰
Further pooled results
Pooled prevalence of sudden cardiac death (SCD)-risk conditions
- Pooled prevalence (random-effects model)
- 2.23‰ (95% CI: 0.94-5.29‰)
- Heterogeneity
- I2 = 100%, P < 0.0001
- extremely high heterogeneity among studies
Study characteristics
- Studies published recently
- 68%
- Studies assessed as having a low risk of bias
- 63%
Original publication
Population-based screening for conditions associated with juvenile sudden cardiac death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. Published 28 January 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjqcco/qcag004
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it