Young men are more likely than women to die suddenly from cardiac arrest caused by irregular heart rhythms, according to a new report. The risk of death among young people hit the headlines earlier this month when Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. It prompted calls for footballers to be screened more regularly for heart problems, increasing the number of mandatory tests from the current level of just one when they are aged about 16. Experts know that sudden cardiac death among most middle-aged and older people is caused by coronary artery disease. In contrast, sudden cardiac death among under-35s is frequently caused by inherited disorders of cardiac muscle (cardiomyopathies) and cardiac rhythm (ion channelopathies). Today's report, from the national audit of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), found 62% of deaths from SADS in England and Wales were in men, and the biggest proportion of SADS happens to people in their 30s. The data covers 317 deaths from July 2008 to January 2012. Most deaths, where recorded, seemed to occur between 6am and 6pm, and 33% of deaths happened when people were resting. Some 19% of deaths occurred when the person was in bed, 7% while they were asleep, and around 17% of people died during some form of exertion, such as exercise. Perry Elliott, audit co-chairman and clinical lead for inherited cardiovascular disease services at the Heart Hospital, University College London, said: “While SADS kills a relatively small number of people in England and Wales, recent events in the sporting world highlight the devastating impact that the condition continues to have on people. “As this report shows, much progress has been made but we still need NHS trusts to provide more data to build on this basic analysis and to improve the outlook for families affected by this fatal condition.” Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “This audit provides a welcome insight into SADS. “It has proved extremely difficult to find out just how many youngsters are dying of this rare, but devastating, syndrome. “Greater participation in audits of this type across the UK is required if we are to get a true picture of the scale of the problem. “The real tragedy is that, even when a case of SADS is identified, coroners and their pathologists all too often fail to alert family members to the possibility that they might be at risk. “This is a simple measure that could save another young life.”
