Sudden Cardiac Death

Genetic heart conditions are known to be one of the more treatable and preventable causes of sudden death. These conditions can affect the heart in numerous ways, leading to heart failure or cardiac arrest if not properly treated and managed. Additionally, while the heart may be affected and complications actively occurring, it is possible for outward signs of the condition to be missed or be so minor as to be ignored. This then leads to instances where sudden death is the first and only symptom that a genetic heart condition is involved.

Appropriate intervention is recommended if there is a history of heart issues or sudden death in your family. This includes undergoing diagnostic testing to observe the condition and functioning of your heart, as well as genetic testing. These tests can reveal what condition is at play, allowing you to treat and manage the condition in the best way possible. Similarly, once you have a diagnosis of a genetic heart condition, it is a signifier that other family members should be tested to confirm if they have the condition.

Early diagnosis, followed by treatment and management of heart conditions can prevent many instances of sudden cardiac death. This rule applies to both acquired and inherited heart conditions.

Being aware of your health is important, and this includes investigating any familial health history that could be evidence of an inherited heart condition. Learning that you have a genetic heart condition does not only help to prevent your sudden cardiac death, but it can also prevent the risk of this for other relatives. This is because genetic heart conditions are passed through families and your diagnosis is evidence that other family members may have the condition. They can then complete testing to see if this is the case, and begin immediate treatment and management if required.

When your heart becomes enlarged, it often cannot function properly. This means there may be reduced blood flow around your body, which is also called heart failure. In extreme instances, this can lead to sudden death, as you may not notice any symptoms of an enlarged heart before it begins to fail.

There are genetic heart conditions that can cause an enlarged heart, such as dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. These conditions, if left untreated, can cause serious complications. If not diagnosed early, sudden death can occur.

Therefore, it’s recommended that if you have concerns about your cardiac function, you get this investigated as soon as possible. This also includes a history of heart conditions and sudden death in your family. These instances can be evidence of a genetic heart condition that you or other relatives may have.

This depends on the age of the individual who passed away. In young individuals (those less than 35 years of age), the chances of a genetic (inherited) heart condition are high and genetic testing after death is vital in identifying the specific cause. In this group of individuals (those less than 35 years of age), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy appears to be the most common genetic heart disease causing sudden death. As age increases, the chances of coronary artery disease (blockages of the heart arteries) and other acquired heart diseases are higher. Nevertheless, a very significant proportion of individuals who suffered sudden cardiac death, and were more than 35 years of age when they passed away, died of a genetic heart disorder. 

This is why an autopsy after death is so important. If the autopsy does not identify a clear cause of sudden death, or if the family declines an autopsy, then genetic testing can reveal the cause of death. This information can then be used to identify others in the family who are at risk and need urgent attention to ensure that the risk of sudden death is reduced.