Evaluation of a screening program for heart disease.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of a screening program using the Phono Cardio Scan to detect heart disease in 18,872 Baltimore (Meryland) elementary school children indicated that few cases were discovered and only one child medical treatment instituted as a result of the program. Most of the children referred to a cardiologist had known disease. There was considerable variability in performance both of the machine and of the three center which were involved in the program. The sensitivity of the machine may have been low as reported in some other studies.