Sudden cardiac death in athletes.

Sudden cardiac death in athletes, although relatively uncommon, is a well-recognized condition generally associated with some congenital abnormalities. It, however, continues to be of vast interest to the public as athletes are seen as a distinct group of individuals who are especially able to tolerate more intense physical activities than the general population. Obviously, intense activities predispose susceptible athletes to sudden cardiac death, hence the importance of pre-participation screening tests. As the cost of healthcare continues to be on the rise, there will be increasing difficulty justifying a nation-wide method of screening cost-effectively. This article is intended to describe the possible underlying causes of sudden cardiac death discovered thus far, as well as methods for detection, pre-participation guidelines, and emerging therapy. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel