Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death refers to cardiac arrest that occurs without clinical warning. The etiology is usually arrhythmia.

The most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes is hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, which accounts for approximately one-third of cases. The second leading cause is an anomalous origin of a coronary artery, which causes ischemia. Other causes are listed below:

• Myocarditis/dilated cardiomyopathy
• Mitral valve prolapse (controversial)
• Commotio cordis
• Aortic rupture
• Myocardial bridging (controversial)
• Aortic stenosis
• Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD)
• Ischemic heart disease (atherosclerosis)
• Undiagnosed congenital heart disease
• Genetic channelopathies (i.e. prolonged QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome)