A new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE reveals that symptoms, ECG abnormalities, or favorable family history are present in nearly nine out of ten cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in young people. The results of the study implied that increasing cardiac screening can help in preventing SCD in the young population with HCM.

The risk of SCD can be decreased in young people with HCM by identifying at-risk patients and limiting exercise and using medication therapy. ICDs, or implantable cardioverter defibrillators, can also prolong life and lower mortality rates. With the aid of information from national registries, autopsy reports, medical records, and post-mortem interviews with relatives, the researchers were able to describe the clinical symptoms, medical history, family history, and ECG results before the incidence of SCD.

Out of all the 38 participants, 31% showed potential cardiac symptoms, such as palpitations and chest discomfort, before death, and 69% sought medical attention in the 180 days before passing away. Similarly, before death, 39% had a known cardiac condition, while 50% had a family history of heart disease. Further, out of 28 people who had their ECGs evaluated at some point in their lives, 23 (82%) had ECG results deemed abnormal. However, when all instances were taken into account, the overall percentage of strange ECG recordings was close to 60%. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/better-screening-could-prevent-sudden-cardiac-death-in-young-people/1129483/ )