Houston Early Age Risk Testing & Screening Study (HEARTS™)

 

What is HEARTS™?

HEARTS™ is a study to detect any abnormal heart conditions that can cause the heart to arrest (suddenly and unexpectedly stop beating).

HEARTS™ study aims:

(1) To develop an efficient & economical program whereby sixth grade students receive a 15-minute cardiovascular screening to include:

1. Questionnaire
2. Cardiovascular physical exam
3. EKG or Electrocardiogram (electrical tracing of the heart)
4. Echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound)
   

(2) To determine the accuracy of this screening in detecting heart problems in children.

Why we are doing HEARTS™?

Approximately one out of every 100 children have an undiagnosed heart condition

Physician histories and physicals are not sufficient to detect these conditions

• Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs in approximately one out of 100,000 students each year
• In Texas, there have been 63 SCA deaths reported among K-12 students since 2001
• Following SCA, less than 10% survive
• No standard screening of school or college athletes exists
• In Italy, a national heart screening program has reduced SCA in young athletes.
• By identifying 6th grade students with underlying cardiac conditions, we seek to prevent SCA via treatment & appropriate exercise limitations.

Who will be doing HEARTS™?

Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston Rockets, American Heart Association Greater Houston/South Texas (South Central Affiliate) and Houston Independent School District have partnered together to create the HEARTS™ study.

The HEARTS™ medical team is experienced in the detection and treatment of such heart diseases in children & adults. Currently they provide medical care for athletes in the National Basketball Association (NBA) pre-draft, Houston Rockets, Rice University, and other high-school students at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute.

Where will the HEARTS™ screening take place?

The HEARTS™ screening, which will involve approximately 1500 sixth grade students from 5 schools in the Houston Independent School District, will be performed on site at these schools. After the screening, any child with abnormal or irregular tests will have further complementary testing at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

When will the HEARTS™ screening start?

HEARTS™ medical team will visit the schools to perform the screening-once per week between May and December 2009.

Based upon the study information collected, the HEARTS™ team will further improve the screening process if required, and then expand this program to screen all sixth grade school children in the greater Houston area (HEARTS™ over Houston). The HEARTS™ team will then develop a state-wide program to provide heart screenings for children throughout Texas (HEARTS™ over Texas)

Will it Cost me Anything?

The screenings, medical services, and therapy required will be provided at no charge by HEARTS™.

HEARTS™ was made possible by a generous startup grant from the Houston Rockets.

What Kids are Saying

By: Khalen
The H.E.A.R.T.S activities  was awesome.  The Houston Rockets and the doctors gave us a pep rally.  Clutch was wild.  He shot Rocket T-shirts into the audience.  Clutch was teasing the doctors.  It was a lot of fun.  Mutambo was there too.  He is a Houston Rocket’s Basketball player.  He is really tall.  The most important things about HEARTs is they had real kids who had heart attacks.  That was sad because they are young just like me.  The kids talked about their heart attack and how their live was saved.  The doctors said if we get this test on our heart it will let us know if we have heart problems.  It can save our life.  I got the test for free.  It didn’t hurt.  I did it because I don’t want to shoot hoops then just die.

By: Joshua:
The doctors, Rockets and special guests gave our school this big pep rally.  We had a blast.  They talked to us about the heart.  I found out that kids can have a heart attack and die.  This heart test lets us know early if we do have a problem for free.  That’s great.  The Rockets and doctors care about Key Middle School so much they are paying for the tests themselves.

By: Billie:
Hearts is a great program because it tells you how your heart is doing and if we have heart problems or not.  It also tells you if you and your heart is in good shape.  They also have words for the letters in hearts.  They are Houston Early Age Testing and Screening.  At first I thought it was going to be fun so I was the second one to turn my paper in.  I was really excited to be in it.  
Before I was about to get tested for my heart I started not do it because my friend told me about it.  We first went into the gym.  We had to put on some blue gowns.  The doctor told us to take off of our shirt and put on the gown.  When we finished putting on our gown we had to sit and wait until she called our names.  After she called our names we went inside they measured us.  Then they tested our heart with an ultrasound to see our heart and to see if it was healthy.  The doctor said that my heart was great!!!.    Thank you HEARTs.