How to better prevent sudden cardiac death? Recent advances.

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a global public health problem. Despite the efforts of the scientific community, it is characterized by low survival (<10%). The strategies used to prevent this catastrophic event are divided into strategies aimed at the individual or population-level. Individuals known to be at high risk for SCD may be treated with medications, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, catheter ablation, or temporary defibrillation devices. At community level, efforts are concentrated on the one hand on the prevention of ischemic heart disease as it constitutes more than 70% of cases of sudden mortality in the adult population, and on the other on the development of resuscitation and early defibrillation programs. Much still needs to be done to improve survival on the one hand by raising awareness among the population through training initiatives and on the other by optimizing and making available technologies more accessible.