Sudden cardiac arrest: a leading cause of death in young people that often goes unnoticed
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most common causes of death among children and young adults, yet it remains underfunded and poorly understood. Families who have lost their children call for greater awareness and prevention.
Every week in the UK, at least 12 seemingly healthy people aged 35 and under die from undiagnosed heart conditions. In the US, about 2,000 people under 25 die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. In Australia, on average one person under 35 experiences sudden cardiac arrest every day – most die.
Victims include 23-year-old Alexandra Thoms, who died in her sleep in August 2023, and 17-year-old Edward Millear, who died after rowing training. 14-year-old Joshua Oguns collapsed during a basketball game, and 15-year-old Kent Yamazaki died while playing tennis.
The fatality rate for sudden cardiac arrest is extreme, with studies putting it at 90%. Over the past 50 years, cardiovascular disease death rates have dropped by 80%, but the rate of sudden cardiac death among young people has remained virtually unchanged.
In children, the main cause is inherited arrhythmias that interfere with the heart's electrical impulses. In teenagers and young adults, inherited structural abnormalities such as cardiomyopathies are more common. About 40% of fatal cases have no obvious heart abnormality found during autopsy.
Experts say research is underfunded and public awareness is low, even among medical professionals. In countries like Japan and Sweden, CPR training is part of the school curriculum, and about half of EU countries require it for a driving licence.
Charities in Australia are pushing for defibrillators in all public places, especially sports grounds. South Australia is the only state that has made them mandatory in certain public buildings.
After losing his daughter, Gordon Thoms founded the charity 'Alexandra's Mission' to promote prevention and awareness. He says: "Sudden cardiac arrest is a preventable public health emergency that needs leadership and action."
