Prediction of Sudden Cardiac Death: Looking Beyond Ejection Fraction

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major public health burden accounting for 15-20% of global mortality. Contemporary guidelines for SCD prevention are centered around the presence of low left ventricular ejection fraction, although the majority of SCD accrues in those not meeting contemporary criteria for SCD prevention. The goal of this review is to elaborate on the contemporary landscape of SCD prediction tools and further highlight gaps and opportunities in SCD prediction and prevention.

There have been considerable advancements in both non-invasive and invasive measures for SCD risk prediction including clinical morbidities, electrocardiographic measures, cardiac imaging (nuclear, magnetic resonance, computed tomography), serum biomarkers, genetics, and invasively assessed electrophysiological characteristics. Novel methodological approaches including application of machine learning, incorporation of competing risk, and use of computational modeling have underscored a future of personalized risk prediction. SCD remains a vital public health challenge. Emerging methods highlight opportunities to improve SCD prediction in the majority of those at risk who do not meet contemporary criteria for SCD prevention therapies. Future efforts will need to focus on easily deployed, multi-parametric risk models that enrich for SCD risk and not for competing mortality.