Sudden cardiac death: mechanisms, therapies and challenges.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of cardiac death in the US. In the past few years, intensive efforts have been made to expand public awareness of SCD and to increase our understanding of its pathophysiology, medical treatment options and device therapy. Significant advances have been made in our ability to prevent SCD in both primary and secondary health care. Two critical issues remain, however: the identification of patients who would benefit from such therapies, and how to achieve even greater prevention, especially primary prevention. The goal of this article is to provide a review of the topic of SCD in the setting of abnormal myocardial substrate, to outline the techniques that are useful in identifying patients at risk, and available treatment options.
Winslow
Robert D
RD
Section of Electrophysiology, Zena and Michael A Weiner Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josée and Henry R Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Mehta
Davendra
D
Fuster
Valentin
V
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents