Cardiologist brings awareness to the heartbreaking toll of sudden cardiac death

Every year, 500 Victorians under 50 pass away from sudden cardiac death — 3 times more than road accidents for the same age group. Professor André La Gerche, Head of the Heart Exercise And Research Trials (HEART) Lab, recently appeared on the lab’s podcast to discuss the little-known impacts of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

The HEART Lab is a joint venture between SVI and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. The lab conducts research on a wide spectrum of health conditions, from severely abnormal heart function through to the best performing hearts of elite athletes. One of the lab’s key research areas is sudden cardiac death (SCD), an unexpected cardiac event that can claim the life of an otherwise healthy young person.

“The whole discussion has been prompted by a tragic death that happened in Melbourne, a high school rower who died suddenly whilst doing rowing training. It shocked the local community and will have changed his family forever.”

Sudden cardiac death can be due to a variety of different causes, including heart attacks, which are often associated with lifestyle factors.

However, for people under 30, the most common causes of cardiovascular deaths are a mixture of genetic or other preexisting factors. They often include conditions affecting the heart muscles and electrical channels and many people are unaware that they have these conditions.

SCD also commonly occurs due to causes unrelated to the heart, like a bleed in the brain or a clot that travels to the lungs.

The mix of competing causes for young people makes it hard to understand exactly why sudden cardiac death occurs.

“We’re not going to be able to find preventions and treatments until we really understand it.”

Techniques like CPR and defibrillation are critically important, however La Gerche highlights that the ultimate aim is to identify people at risk and prevent people from having a cardiac arrest.

Heart screening methods like electrocardiograms (ECGs) are available, but La Gerche stresses that they are not foolproof and more research is critical.

“Cardiac arrest is so devastating, it has such an impact on society and it absolutely rips families apart. We need to focus on it with laser-like attention and not dismiss any part of it.”