The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Understanding cardiac arrest in young people
Cedar-Sinai investigators report lower rate of genetic variants associated with this deadly event. Cedars-Sinai investigators have identified rare genetic variants that might make some young people more likely to experience sudden cardiac arrest than others—but noted a lower rate for these variants than reported in previous studies. The findings… Read More
AI can accurately predict potentially fatal cardiac events in firefighters
Training a machine-learning model with real-life data from firefighters was key Firefighters regularly risk their lives in dangerous situations, but most deaths on duty are not directly caused by fire or smoke inhalation. Instead, approximately 40% of on-duty fatalities come from sudden cardiac death. Now, researchers at the National Institute… Read More
Bystander CPR and defibrillation rates increase dramatically with volunteer responder systems
People suffering from sudden cardiac arrest are more likely to survive if cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) are used as soon as possible. However, in an out-of-hospital setting survival rates are low due to delays in care and low uptake of bystander CPR and AED use. Alerting nearby volunteers of the… Read More
It’s all in your head? OU researchers link blood flow regulation in the brain and prognosis following cardiac arrest
Newly-identified correlation could improve management and optimize post-resuscitation care for individual patients Although standardization of treatment for out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest has progressed and efforts to improve outcomes are being made worldwide, many patients still suffer neurological sequelae (hypoxic-ischemic brain injury… Read More
New AI tool beats standard approaches for detecting heart attacks
A new machine learning model uses electrocardiogram (ECG) readings to diagnose and classify heart attacks faster and more accurately than current approaches, according to a study led by University of Pittsburgh researchers that published today in Nature Medicine. “When a patient comes into the hospital with chest pain, the first question we ask is… Read More
‘Pray’ and ‘hope’: Assessing social media response to Damar Hamlin’s sudden cardiac arrest
Key takeaways: Twitter posts after the collapse of athlete Damar Hamlin frequently included the words “pray” and “hope.” There were fewer posts that referenced CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators. An analysis of social media reactions after the televised collapse of Damar Hamlin suggests many people do not see an active role for… Read More
Wider access to health insurance via Medicaid expansion improved cardiac care
Expanding health insurance access may lessen the toll of heart disease in the U.S., suggests a new analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes Research Highlights: States that participated in the Medicaid expansion provision of the Affordable Care Act, raising the income level to be eligible for Medicaid up to 138% of… Read More
Association of Black Cardiologists issues statement on Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin's return to the NFL
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On behalf of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), we extend our heartfelt well wishes and unwavering support to National Football League (NFL) player Damar Hamlin, who experienced a sudden cardiac event early this year. We recognize the gravity of this event and its impact on him, the NFL community, the country, and… Read More
Post-traumatic stress disorder affects more than one in ten cardiac device patients
Nearly one-third of patients with an implanted device to prevent sudden death have anxiety in the first year while depression affects one in five. That’s the finding of a study published today in EP Europace, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 “Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are effective at extending patients… Read More