Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention in Young Athletes
Summary
Sudden cardiac death in young athletes is an uncommon but devastating event arising from a spectrum of hereditary, structural and electrical heart disorders. Prevention relies on a multifaceted approach encompassing pre-participation screening, prompt recognition of warning signs, targeted risk stratification and ready access to life-saving interventions. Screening strategies extend from medical history and physical examination to resting and exercise electrocardiography, with evolving criteria designed to distinguish physiological adaptations of the athlete’s heart from pathological findings. Genetic testing and cardiac imaging supplement assessment in equivocal cases, especially where familial cardiomyopathies or channelopathies are suspected. At the community level, widespread placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), mandatory cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for coaches and officials, and clear emergency action plans have demonstrably improved survival after exertional cardiac arrest. Tailoring prevention to the level of competition and resources available ensures global applicability, while ongoing research seeks to refine risk thresholds and minimise false positives that may unnecessarily restrict young athletes from competition.
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Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention in Young Athletes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sudden cardiac death prevention in young athletes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Sudden cardiac death (SCD): Unexpected death due to cardiac causes occurring within one hour of symptom onset, or unwitnessed death in a healthy individual.
Electrocardiogram (ECG): A non-invasive recording of the heart’s electrical activity used to detect structural and electrical abnormalities.
Automated external defibrillator (AED): A portable device that analyses heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock to restore normal rhythm in ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
Commotio cordis: Sudden arrhythmic arrest caused by a blow to the precordium during a vulnerable phase of the cardiac cycle.
References
- Commotio Cordis in 2023. Sports Medicine (2023).
- International Recommendations for Electrocardiographic Interpretation in Athletes. Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2017).
- Sports-related sudden cardiac arrest in young adults. EP Europace (2022).
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