Deck 5: Epidemiology of Sudden Cardiac Death

Question 1

Sudden cardiac deaths account for about one third of all deaths from cardiovascular diseases.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

SCD is defined as "witnessed cardiac death within one hour of the loss of consciousness due to SCA, or unwitnessed cardiac death within 24 hours of being seen alive and well."

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) explicitly refers to the abrupt loss of heart function and its ability to pump blood because of interruption of the electrical conduction system of the heart.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Approximately two-thirds of all sudden cardiac deaths occur "out-of-hospital" or are "dead-on-arrival" at the Emergency Room.

Question 5

Approximately 50% of sudden cardiac deaths are unwitnessed.

Question 6

Sudden cardiac arrest is synonymous with myocardial infarction.

Question 7

Approximately 5-6 million cardiac deaths occur annually in the world population.

Question 8

The incidence of SCD in populations of developed nations has increased dramatically in recent years.

Question 9

Early administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and hock therapy (defibrillation) can be life-saving in persons who manifest sudden cardiac arrest.

Question 10

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are not recommended for persons with heart failure to prevent SCD.

Question 11

What fraction of sudden cardiac deaths occur out-of-hospital or before arrival at the ER?

A) 1/3
B) 1/2
C) 2/3
D) 3/4

Question 12

Approximately what fraction of sudden cardiac deaths are unwitnessed?

A) 1/3
B) 1/2
C) 2/3
D) 3/4

Question 13

What is the most common predisposing condition for SCD in older adults?

A) Ischemic Heart Disease
B) Prior Myocardial Infarction
C) Congestive Heart Failure
D) Atrial Fibrillation

Question 14

What is the most common predisposing condition for SCD in children?

A) Viral myocarditis
B) Inherited anomalies
C) Rheumatic fever
D) Cardiomyopathy

Question 15

What features characterize Marfan syndrome?

A) Autosomal Dominant inheritance
B) Mutation of Fibrillin-1 gene
C) Predisposition to aortic dissection
D) Increased risk of SCD
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 16

Which microbe causes rheumatic heart disease?

A) Coxsackie B Virus
B) Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus
C) Adenovirus
D) Influenza

Question 17

Commotio cordis refers to which of the following events related to SCD in a young athlete?

A) Acute infection
B) Acute allergic reaction
C) Acute chest wall impact
D) Acute aortic aneurysm

Question 18

In the Olmstead County, Minnesota cohort, annual rates of SCD declined in parallel with declining rates of which of the following conditions?

A) MI and smoking
B) MI and diabetes
C) MI and congestive heart failure
D) MI, smoking, diabetes, and heart failure

Question 19

Recommended measures to reduce SCD include which of the following?

A) Smoking cessation
B) Screening for family history of SCA/SCD
C) Education on CPR, AED, and ICD (cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator, implantable cardioverter defibrillator) for family members of patients with CVD.
D) Guideline-directed medical therapy for patients with CVD
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 20

What is the approximate current annual number of sudden cardiac deaths in the world population?

A) 1-2 million
B) 2-3 million
C) 3-4 million
D) 4-6 million

Question 21

Briefly discuss the global burden of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Question 22

Define sudden cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death.

Question 23

Discuss the causes of SCD in adults.

Question 24

Discuss the causes of SCD in children.

Question 25

Discuss the declining trend in SCD observed in the Olmstead County, Minnesota cohort.

Question 26

Discuss the "trigger-substrate hypothesis" of SCD.

Question 27

Discuss methods of prevention of SCD.