Since 2002, TOPS (Team of Physicians for Students) has conducted free annual sports screening physicals with cardiac testing in the Phoenix, Arizona area. As a result of these screenings, serious heart conditions were revealed including instances of students having a family history of heart disease or sudden cardiac arrest, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, heart murmurs, and asthma. Most importantly, some students and their family members were found to have serious genetic heart conditions that could potentially lead to sudden cardiac arrest like HCM - a congenital cardiovascular condition that is estimated to affect as many as 1.5 million Americans.

TOPS Mission It is the mission of TOPS to promote the well being of high school student athletes by providing comprehensive physical screenings, free of charge, to all students participating in interscholastic athletics or associated activities. Visit TOPS Online

TOPS Goals

• Provide cardiac evaluation - an EKG for every student
• Provide onsite Echocardiograms as necessary
• Provide health related educational materials
• Provide educational opportunities for medical students
• Provide a forum for health related community outreach programs
• Collect data for research, while protecting student’s privacy
• Share the TOPS program with other communities and organizations

TOPS FAQs

What is the TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing event? Who is it for?
The free sports screening physicals with cardiac testing conducted by TOPS is open to all high school students who participate in interscholastic athletics or general sports activities in the Phoenix area. This year, the screenings will also include athletes from several the local junior colleges.

What is involved in the TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing?
The free TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing includes the following:

Vision testing Neurological testing Height and weight measurement ECG (Electrocardiogram) Personal Examination (Including patient and family history)

Echocardiogram (If necessary based on examination, EKG or history) Blood Pressure check Flexibility testing Heart/lungs check Range of motion testing

How many students receive the TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing? How many do you anticipate this year?
Since implementing the cardiac testing as part of the sports screening, TOPS has seen approximately 7,500 students. This year, we expect to provide free screenings to 2,500 - 3,000 students.

Who performs the TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing?
The TOPS exams are conducted by practicing physicians including cardiologists and medical students.

What are some of the conditions found through the TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing?
In the past, the TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing has revealed instances of students having a family history of sudden cardiac arrest in the family, high blood pressure, heart murmurs, congenital cardiovascular conditions, such as HCM, Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, mitral valve prolapse (MVP) syndrome, heart blockage and bicuspid AV disease. The TOPS screenings also discovered other non-cardiac medical problems including asthma, hernias, vision difficulties and orthopedic problems.

What happens if you find something as a result of the TOPS sports screening physicals with cardiac testing?
If an ECG is positive, a follow up exam is conducted with an echocardiography exam, which is an ultrasound of the heart. Once the results are received, the parents are notified and encouraged to get a second opinion.

Are there similar programs offered in other parts of the country? Are there plans to expand the sports screening physicals with cardiac testing in the future? With whom or where?
TOPS screening efforts are expanding this year to include junior college athletes ages 18-22. TOPS has worked with an organization in Philadelphia to incorporate cardiac testing into their screening events. Other opportunities are also being investigated. As new sites arise, our website will publish them.