Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating, leading to a sudden loss of consciousness and a cessation of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Without prompt intervention, such as CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or defibrillation, SCA can lead to death within minutes.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) can affect all age groups, including young persons. Although less common in the age < 35 years, the occurrence of SCD in the young is an unanswered question with multiple possible etiologies. While coronary artery disease is the leading cause in those > 35 years of age, the younger population faces a different subset of etiologies associated with SCD, including arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies.
