The Risk of Sudden Unexpected Cardiac Death in Children: Epidemiology, Clinical Causes, and Prevention

Emanuele Monda; Michele Lioncino; Marta Rubino; Martina Caiazza; Annapaola Cirillo; Adelaide Fusco; Roberta Pacileo; Fabio Fimiani; Federica Amodio; Nunzia Borrelli; Diego Colonna; Barbara D'Onofrio; Giulia Frisso; Fabrizio Drago; Silvia Castelletti; Berardo Sarubbi; Paolo Calabrò; Maria Giovanna Russo; Giuseppe Limongelli

doi:10.1016/j.hfc.2021.07.002

The Risk of Sudden Unexpected Cardiac Death in Children: Epidemiology, Clinical Causes, and Prevention

Heart Fail Clin. 2022 Jan;18(1):115-123. doi: 10.1016/j.hfc.2021.07.002. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Authors

Emanuele Monda¹, Michele Lioncino¹, Marta Rubino¹, Martina Caiazza¹, Annapaola Cirillo¹, Adelaide Fusco¹, Roberta Pacileo¹, Fabio Fimiani¹, Federica Amodio¹, Nunzia Borrelli¹, Diego Colonna¹, Barbara D'Onofrio¹, Giulia Frisso², Fabrizio Drago³, Silvia Castelletti⁴, Berardo Sarubbi¹, Paolo Calabrò¹, Maria Giovanna Russo¹, Giuseppe Limongelli⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via L. Bianchi, 80131 Naples, Italy.
² Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
³ Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS-Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin, Via Pier Lombardo 22, 20135 Milan, Italy.
⁴ Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS-Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin, Milan, Italy.
⁵ Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via L. Bianchi, 80131 Naples, Italy; Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University College of London and St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Grower Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK. Electronic address: limongelligiuseppe@libero.it.

PMID: 34776073
DOI: 10.1016/j.hfc.2021.07.002

Abstract

"Sudden unexplained death (SUD) is a tragic event for both the family and community, particularly when it occurs in young individuals. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) represents the leading form of SUD and is defined as an unexpected event without an obvious extracardiac cause, occurring within 1 hour after the onset of symptoms. In children, the main causes of SCD are inherited cardiac disorders, whereas coronary artery diseases (congenital or acquired), congenital heart diseases, and myocarditis are rare. The present review examines the current state of knowledge regarding SCD in children, discussing the epidemiology, clinical causes, and prevention strategies."

Keywords: Cardiomyopathies; Channelopathies; Children; Sudden cardiac death.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Death, Sudden, Cardiac* / epidemiology
Death, Sudden, Cardiac* / etiology
Death, Sudden, Cardiac* / prevention & control
Heart Diseases*
Humans