Sudden Cardiac Death of Rhythmic Origin in Athletes: Literature review

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Published May 8, 2012
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Vol. 90 No. 5 (2012): Issue May 2012

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Rami Tlili
Youssef Ben Ameur
Wissem Sdiri
Rim Ben Romdhane
Kawther Bachraoui
Kawther Bachraoui
Mohamed Rachid Boujnah

Abstract

The sudden death in athletes is, in the vast majority of cases, related to ventricular fibrillation, often in a subject with unknown cardiovascular abnormality; this dramatic event has a significant impact on society and the medical profession. We conducted through a literature review an analysis of data on sudden cardiac death of rhythmic origin in athletes; sudden death may be cardiovascular in 95.3% of cases and related to ventricular arrhythmia in 88% cases. The main causes are: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital anomalies of coronary arteries, and arhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia for athletes under 35 years, and atherosclerosis beyond 35 years. Prevention is based on three main areas: the medical assessment and screening for cardiovascular disease; the chain of survival; the education of the athlete and the public. All these measures should improve significantly the survival prognosis of patients suffering from these accidents.

Keywords:

Sudden death, ventricular fibrillation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, chain of survival

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