The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) on Thursday, Feb. 5, called for the establishment of a standardized, evidence-based national framework for preparticipation cardiovascular screening of athletes, warning that the absence of uniform guidelines could put Filipino athletes at risk of sudden cardiac death.

The call was made in a joint position statement by the PHA Councils on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Sports Cardiology, Preventive Cardiology, and Congenital Heart Disease, which urged a systematic and collaborative approach to athlete screening.

“The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) recommends that a systematic and collaborative approach to preparticipation cardiovascular screening be carried out in athletes and will assist in its implementation and advocacy,” the group said.

“The PHA calls for the development of a national framework for athlete cardiovascular screening that is evidence-based, standardized, and adapted to the Philippine context,” it added.

The association said the proposed framework should include consistent screening protocols for pediatric and adult athletes, improved access to diagnostic resources, clear referral pathways for at-risk individuals, and stronger education efforts for athletes, coaches, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.

“Through collaborations with relevant stakeholders, the PHA aims to improve our approach to cardiac screening to reduce the burden of sudden cardiac death among our athletes, safeguarding their lives and promoting sports and exercise to improve cardiovascular health,” it added.

The PHA underscored that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of sudden cardiac death among athletes, noting that undiagnosed heart conditions may result in sudden cardiac arrest with potentially catastrophic outcomes.

“However, cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes and undiagnosed cardiac conditions can lead to sudden cardiac arrest which may have catastrophic consequences,” it said.

While such cases are considered rare, the association said they carry significant medical and societal impact.

“Although rare, such events carry significant medical and societal impact, underscoring the need for proactive preventative strategies,” it said.

The group stressed that routine cardiovascular screening plays a critical role in athlete health management, particularly through comprehensive preparticipation evaluations.

“Preparticipation cardiovascular evaluation—including medical history, physical examination and a resting 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG), when feasible, can detect at-risk individuals and enable timely intervention,” it said.

The PHA noted that while international organizations such as the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology support athlete screening, the Philippines lacks standardized national recommendations covering both professional and grassroots levels.

“However, there are no standardized national recommendations for cardiovascular screening in Filipino athletes, both at the professional and grassroots levels,” the association said.

It said this could result in inconsistent health practices and missed cardiovascular conditions.