Cardiac Screening for Conditions Associated With Sudden Cardiac Death: Yield, Interventions, and SCA/SCD Incidence in...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Preventive Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention efforts often target young athletes, with limited data on general youth screening.
• Population screening for SCD-associated conditions in the general young population requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diagnostic yield of a single cardiac screening in young individuals.
• To determine the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and SCD after initial screening clearance.
• To evaluate subsequent cardiac diagnoses in young individuals post-screening.

Main Methods:

• 104,369 individuals aged 14-35 underwent a single screening (questionnaire, ECG, selective echocardiography) between 2008-2018.
• Cardiologist consultation and secondary evaluation were provided when indicated.
• Outcomes were tracked via national databases and follow-up questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Screening identified 280 (0.3%) individuals with SCA/SCD-associated conditions; 41% received interventions.
• Over 6 years, 86 (0.08%) additional individuals were diagnosed with SCA/SCD-associated conditions or experienced SCA/SCD.
• The incidence of SCA/SCD was 5.6 per 100,000 person-years.

Conclusions:

• A single cardiac screening detects SCA/SCD-associated conditions in a small percentage of young individuals, with many receiving interventions.
• A notable proportion of individuals cleared at screening were later diagnosed with or experienced SCA/SCD.
• Enhanced strategies, potentially including serial evaluations, are needed to prevent SCD in young populations.