Sudden cardiac death in competitive athletes.
Sudden cardiac death in competitive athletes is a rare event in spite of the large numbers participating in organized sports. These tragic episodes usually receive significant media coverage and stimulate intense discussion in the lay and medical communities about how future occurrences might be avoided. This clinical commentary will review a variety of issues concerning sudden cardiac death in competitive athletes, including epidemiology, causes, screening methods, and potential for prevention.
McGrew
Christopher A
CA
Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA. cmcgrew@salud.unm.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology