Important causes of sudden cardiac death
Reproduced from: Pitcher D. Sudden Cardiac Death. In ABC of Resuscitation, Sixth Edition
2012 Soar J, Perkins G, Nolan J eds. Wiley-Blackwell; Oxford.
Condition
Long QT syndromes (LQTS)
Acquired QT interval prolongation
Brugada syndrome
Short QT syndrome (SQTS)
Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular
tachycardia (CPVT)
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular
cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome
High-grade atrioventricular block
Severe aortic stenosis
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Ischaemic heart disease due to coronary
atheroma
Other myocardial diseases
Causes Further detail
Inherited (autosomal dominant) ion channel Predispose to torsade de pointes VT and VF
disorders
Many different genotypes but types 1–3 are
most common
Drug therapy Predisposes to torsade de pointes VT and VF
Ischaemic heart disease
Myocarditis
Inherited (autosomal dominant) ion channel Occurs worldwide but more common in
disorder SE Asia
Risk of SCD higher in young males
Rare, inherited (autosomal dominant) ion Predisposes to torsade de pointes VT and VF
channel disorder
Rare, inherited (autosomal dominant) ion Predisposes to torsade de pointes VT and VF,
channel disorder especially on exercise
Inherited (autosomal dominant) Predisposes to VT and VF
Inherited (autosomal dominant) SCD risk is due to VT and VF. Risk varies with
Several different genotypes genotype and with individual factors
Mostly sporadic Not all WPW patients are at risk of SCD. Risk is
Infrequent familial incidence due to rapid transmission of AF to the
ventricles, triggering VT or VF
Conducting system fibrosis Predisposes to ventricular standstill (asystole)
Calcific aortic stenosis Some people with extreme bradycardia
Myocardial diseases including ischaemic develop torsade de pointes VT and VF
heart disease Cardiac surgery
Drug therapy
Occasionally congenital
Congenital bicuspid valve (becomes severe at age If untreated may progress to heart failure or
50–70 or younger) SCD, probably mostly due to VT or VF
Degenerative (becomes severe in elderly
patients)
Probably multiple causes Many develop progressive heart failure but
Familial in a minority of cases there is risk of SCD due to VT or VF
Partly genetic, partly acquired SCD risk is mainly due to VT or VF, which may
be in response to acute ischaemia or
infarction or may be due to previous
myocardial scarring SCD risk is mainly due to
VT or VF, which may be in response to acute
ischaemia or infarction or may be due to
previous myocardial scarring
Hypertensive heart disease, sarcoid heart disease May predispose to ventricular arrhythmia or
etc AVB in some patients
Anomalous coronary artery anatomy Congenital Rare cause of SCD in young people, often on
exercise. Risk varies with the anomalous
anatomical pattern

Adult congenital heart disease Congenital Patients with adult congenital heart disease
often remain at risk of cardiac arrest due to
tachycardia and bradycardia even when they
have had corrective surgery as a child