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.