As per statistics, 15% of all sudden deaths are related to long QT syndrome, a rare inherited or acquired heart condition. Also, around 2000 children are killed by SCA per year out of which 72% of children who have experienced SCA have had previous symptoms.
Early detection can be a good way to understand SCA better. It is necessary to be cautious about SCA risk factors such as smoking, obesity, family history of heart condition, a previous heart attack, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, drug abuse and drinking too much alcohol i.e., more than 2 glasses a day.
Age and sex also determine the cause of SCA. Men are 2-3 times more likely to experience SCA. While the chances of SCA increases with age, men can experience it after 45 and women after 55.
It is not possible to predict SCA but people suffering from the same may benefit from tests like Electrocardiogram (ECG), Blood Tests (eg., cardiac enzymes, electrolyte, hormone and drug.), Imaging Tests (eg., Chest x-ray, nuclear scan, echocardiogram), Electrophysiological (EP) testing and mapping, Ejection Fraction (EF) testing, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a nuclear medicine scan on computerised tomography (CT) scans and Angiogram.
In the case of SCA prevention is better than cure!