The low impact of screening electrocardiograms in healthy individuals: a prospective study and review of the literature.

Objective: To determine how often screening electrocardiograms (EKGs), which are required by military regulation, change management or disclose cardiac disease in healthy people.

Methods: A total of 1,718 consecutive EKG interpretations, whether or not the screening EKG led to further testing, disclosed serious or potentially serious cardiac disease, or changed management or disposition of the patient, were prospectively recorded.

Results: Thirty-four percent of the screening EKGs was abnormal.