Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Cardiac Screening for Conditions Associated With Sudden Cardiac Death: Yield, Interventions, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)/Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) Incidence in 104,369 Young Individuals
Authors' conclusion
A single cardiac screening identified a condition associated with SCA/SCD in 0.3% of young individuals of whom 41% received risk-modifying interventions beyond lifestyle and medication. Over a 6-year follow-up, 0.08% of individuals cleared at screening were diagnosed with conditions associated with SCA/SCD or presented with SCA/SCD. The incidence of SCA/SCD was 5.6 of 100,000 person-years
Study context
- Population
- Young individuals aged 14 to 35 years (62% male, 89% White, 9% athletes) undergoing a single cardiac screening (questionnaire, electrocardiogram (ECG), selective echocardiography), 2008–2018
- Participants
- 104,369 individuals
- Outcome
- Diagnostic yield of cardiac screening, subsequent diagnoses after clearance, and incidence of SCA/SCD
Methodological detailsconsecutive individuals, single screening
- Consecutive individuals
- Single screening
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Referred for secondary evaluation
- 2,619 (2.5%)
- Referred for symptoms or family history of clinical concern
- 937 (0.9%)
- Referred for abnormal ECG
- 1,361 (1.3%)
- Referred for both
- 321 (0.3%)
- Conditions associated with SCA/SCD identified
- 280 (0.3%)
- Received risk-modifying interventions
- 115 (41%)
- Prophylactic ICDs
- 10
- Cardiac transplants
- 2
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Conditions associated with SCA/SCD diagnosed after clearance · mean follow-up 6.0 ± 2.5 years
- Additional individuals diagnosed
- 86 (0.08%)
- Experienced SCA or SCD
- 35
- SCA
- 15
- SCD
- 20
Incidence of SCA/SCD · mean follow-up 6.0 ± 2.5 years
- Incidence
- 5.6 of 100,000 person-years
- Median age of presentation
- 23.8 years (IQR: 10.5)
- Median time from screening to event
- 3.6 years (range: 0.2-11.7)
Sensitivity for detecting conditions associated with SCA/SCD
- ECG sensitivity
- 75.4%
- Questionnaire sensitivity
- 32.5%
Original publication
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