Final Recommendation Statement:

Screening for Cardiovascular Disease Risk With Electrocardiography

Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Cardiovascular Disease Risk With Electrocardiography

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with electrocardiography (ECG). The Task Force recommends against ECG screening in adults at low risk for CVD and finds insufficient evidence on ECG screening in those at medium or high risk. To view the recommendation and the evidence on which it is based, please go here. The final recommendation statement can also be found in the June 12 online issue of JAMA.

The Final Recommendation Statement Is Available

FINAL RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY

See the full statement

Population

Recommendation

Grade

Adults at low risk of CVD events

The USPSTF recommends against screening with resting or exercise ECG to prevent cardiovascular disease CVD events in asymptomatic adults at low risk of CVD events.

Adults at intermediate or high risk of CVD events

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening with resting or exercise ECG to prevent CVD events in asymptomatic adults at intermediate or high risk of CVD events.

WHY THIS MATTERS

"Adding ECG screening for people at low risk of a heart attack or stroke is unlikely to help prevent CVD events and can actually cause harms,” says Task Force member Seth Landefeld, M.D. “Anyone who has questions about their risk for heart disease, heart attack, or stroke should talk to their clinician.”