The overall survival rate of athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest has improved over the past decade, but the likelihood of surviving varies by race, where the cardiac arrest occurred and what athletes were doing when they collapsed, according to clinical research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session and published in JACC.
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes, and previous research has shown that Black athletes face a higher risk. The study analyzed 641 cases of sudden cardiac arrest that occurred in young athletes in the United States, with 49% of the 641 athletes surviving SCA.
57% of Black athletes and 54% of other race (non-White, non-Black) athletes who suffered sudden cardiac arrest during exertion died between 2014-2023, compared with 32% of White athletes. The likelihood of survival also varied by sport.
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SOURCE: AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY