Pediatric Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Assessment Form
Is Your Child At Risk?
from sudden cardiac death
Your child or a young person you know may be at risk for sudden cardiac death due to an inherited condition. He/she will appear healthy and, in most cases, you will have absolutely no idea that something might be wrong. Once diagnosed, these conditions are treatable!
About sudden cardiac death in the young
- Each year in the United States, 350,000 Americans die suddenly and unexpectedly due to cardiac arrhythmias. Almost 4,000 of them are young people under age 35 (CDC, 2002)
- These conditions include Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Brugada Syndrome, etc.
- 10-12% of SIDS is due to Long QT Syndrome.
- LQTS is now known to be 3 times more common in the US than childhood leukemia.
- 1 in 200,000 high school athletes in the US will die suddenly, most without any prior symptoms (JAMA, 1996)
- According to the CDC, deaths from SCA increased 10% (from 2,719 in 1989 to 3,000 in 1996) in people between the ages of 15 and 34.
What you can do
- You or your child’s doctor should fill out the questionnaire on the back of this form. If you answer yes to any of the questions, your doctor should check your child’s heart.
- If your child has any of the following warning signs see your doctor:
- Family history of unexpected, unexplained sudden death in a young person
- Fainting (syncope) or seizure during exercise, excitement or startle
- Consistent or unusual chest pain and/or shortness of breath during exercise
- Ask your school or child’s sports association to make this questionnaire mandatory for all kids before they participate in any active sport.
For more information or if you need a referral to a heart specialist, contact us at 1-801-272-3023 or visit www.StopSADS.org.
