Triggers for sudden cardiac death in the athlete

Cardiol Clin. 1996 May;14(2):195-210. doi: 10.1016/s0733-8651(05)70273-3.

Abstract

Sudden death on the athletic field is usually due to underlying cardiovascular disease. Coronary artery disease is most common in older athletes, and a variety of congenital cardiovascular malformations predominate in young competitive athletes. Of these lesions, the most common in North America is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A variety of coronary artery anomalies are next in frequency, with the most important being anomalous origin of left main coronary artery from the anterior sinus of Valsalva.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / mortality
  • Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / physiopathology
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology*
  • Heart Diseases / mortality
  • Heart Diseases / pathology
  • Heart Diseases / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Sports*