"Heart screenings offered to sixth-graders at a Houston middle school revealed seven with undiagnosed heart conditions — two of which required surgery — and the results shocked researchers who want to see such tests offered at every campus.
Those 94 students at Key Middle School were the first tested in a study led by Houston cardiologist Dr. John Higgins. On Wednesday, his group began screening 150 students at Houston's Fleming Middle School.
Higgins is hoping the findings will win support for his crusade to make heart exams routine for all U.S. sixth-graders.
“Usually, the first time these kids have symptoms is during cardiac arrest,” said Higgins. “We had at least two cases in Houston last year where it was the first episode and they died.”
While other studies have focused on athletes, this project includes all students."