National Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome Audit Report - 2011

In most middle-aged and older adults, sudden cardiac death is caused by coronary artery disease. In contrast, sudden cardiac death in individuals aged less than 35 years is frequently caused by inherited disorders of cardiac muscle (cardiomyopathies) and cardiac rhythm (ion channelopathies). The genetic nature of many of these diseases means that the relatives of young sudden cardiac death victims are at risk of similar events. In 2004, chapter 8 of the Department of Health's National Service Framework for coronary heart disease recommended family assessment when a sudden cardiac death occurs in a young person. In response to this challenge, The UK Cardiac Pathology Network (UK CPN) was formed in order to provide local coroners with an expert cardiac pathology service and to promote best pathological practice in sudden death cases. A national database allowing UK CPN pathologists to record information on cases referred to them was launched in November 2008 in partnership with the NHS Information Centre for health and social care (NHS IC) and the Department of Health. This second report describes the data collected up to and including January 2012.