Table 2. The 14-element cardiovascular screening checklist for congenital and genetic heart disease in young athletes recommended by the AHA.

Personal history

Chest pain/discomfort/tightness/pressure related to exertion

Unexplained syncope/near-syncope

Excessive exertional and unexplained dyspnea/fatigue or palpitations

Prior recognition of a heart murmur

Elevated systemic blood pressure

Prior restriction from participation in sports

Prior testing for the heart, ordered by a physician

Family history

Premature death (sudden and unexpected, or otherwise) before age 50

Disability from heart disease in close relative <50 y of age

Hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, long-QT syndrome, or other ion channelopathies, Marfan syndrome, or clinically significant arrhythmias

Physical examination

Heart murmur

Femoral pulses to exclude aortic coarctation

Physical stigmata of Marfan syndrome

Brachial artery blood pressure (sitting position)

AHA, The American Heart Associations.