Don’t order annual electrocardiography or any other cardiac screening for asymptomatic, low-risk patients.

Rationale and Comments

There is little evidence that detection of coronary artery stenosis improves health outcomes in asymptomatic patients at low risk of coronary heart disease. False-positive test results are likely to lead to harm through unnecessary invasive procedures, overtreatment, and misdiagnosis. Potential harms of routine annual screening exceed the potential benefit.

Sponsoring Organizations

American Academy of Family Physicians
American College of Physicians

Sources

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Disciplines

Cardiovascular
Preventive Medicine

References

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for coronary heart disease with electrocardiography. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsacad.htm.