New information released April 5, 2011 from a study in the current issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association found that sudden cardiac death is more prevalent than once suspected among young athletes ages 17 to 23. Through examining insurance claims, media reports and records from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the researchers found that one in 43,770 young athletes die each year from a cardiac episode.
Who is most at Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death?
The study found that certain groups of people as well as certain sports place athletes at a greater risk of cardiac death. African-American athletes are at a much higher risk with a rate of one in 17,696 as compared to Caucasian athletes who are at risk with a rate of one in 58,653. Males are more than twice as likely as females to die of sudden cardiac death. Athletes participating in basketball are at the highest risk of sudden cardiac death with swimming, lacrosse, football and cross-country track following behind. Male basketball Division I athletes are at risk by one in 3,000.
Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death
In general, the cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes is due to an underlying heart condition, the most common being hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The Mayo Clinic of Rochester, MN describes HCM as an inherited disease that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. HCM can also cause problems in the heart’s electrical system which can result in abnormal heart rhythms. HCM can go undetected for years and many people with this disease never have serious problems from it. However, in the case of an athlete, the constant pressure of exercise and running can trigger the heart to go into cardiac arrest.
Other heart conditions may also be the cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes and most occur at birth and are undiagnosed. These include a hole in the heart, rare arrhythmias, Marfan syndrome, Kawasaki’s disease, abnormal blood vessels, abnormal heart valves and a sudden blow to the chest.
How to Lower the Risk of Cardiac Death in Young Athletes
The American Heart Association believes that, with these new study figures in mind, all young athletes should have a thorough physical examination as well as a detailed family history taken before participating in any sport. For those groups who are at a higher risk of cardiac death, adding an electrocardiogram (ECG) to the physical should be considered. In cases where a relative of the athlete had any form of heart disease, the athlete may also have inherited it and should be screened. Taking these precautions may help lower the incident of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
Sources:
Science Daily: Sudden Cardiac Death Affects about 1 in 44,000 NCAA Athletes a Year, Study Finds
Mayo Clinic: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
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