The Role of Resting Electrocardiogram in Screening for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in High-Risk Groups

Purpose of Review We sought to determine whether a role existed for the screening of certain populations with electrocardiogram (ECG) to improve risk stratification and facilitate risk reduction for primary prevention. Recent Findings Current screening guidelines do not recommend ECG screening for the general population. Summary While current guidelines, based on the available evidence, do not recommend ECG screening for the general population, in this report, we show that certain groups such as the elderly, those with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease, may benefit from screening as a cost-effective means for identifying those at risk for future cardiovascular disease events. However, future studies are needed to standardize ECG markers and further qualify the screening value in these populations.