The Tragic Reality of Sudden Death in Young Athletes: Understanding the Most Common Causes

Sudden death in young athletes is a tragic and rare event that can have a significant impact on the athlete's family, friends, and community. According to a study published in the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal, Sudden cardiac death is the most common medical cause of death in athletes, with an incidence of around 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 80,000 athletes per year according to the most recent estimates.

Roughly half of cardiac related deaths in young athletes are due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular hypertrophy, however many conditions exist that can be screened and accounted for. (NIH)

1. 46% Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy
2. 19% Coronary artery anomalies
3. ?5% Myocarditis
4. Ruptured aortic aneurysm (Marfan syndrome)
5. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
6. Tunnelled (bridged) coronary artery
7. Aortic valve stenosis
8. Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease
9. Dilated cardiomyopathy
10. Mitral valve prolapse
11. <1%Long QT syndromes

To reduce the risk of sudden death in young athletes, it is important to properly screen, identify and assess any underlying medical conditions. This may involve advanced testing to identify any inherited conditions and regular medical screenings to assess the overall health of the athlete. The American Heart Association recommends a simple 12 point assessment to be done to help screen for these potential abnormalities:

If positively indicated for any of the 12 points, it is recommended to get further screening and evaluation. Splynt recommends a standardized sports physical screening be performed by your physician or medical provider every year before sport participation to help identify and reduce risk or early cardiac related death.

By taking steps to identify and address any underlying medical conditions, young athletes can help to reduce their risk of sudden death and continue to enjoy the benefits of a physically active and sports filled life.

Sources cited:

Wasfy MM, Hutter AM, Weiner RB. Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. 2016 Apr-Jun;12(2):76-80. doi: 10.14797/mdcj-12-2-76. PMID: 27486488; PMCID: PMC4969030.

Crawford MH. Screening athletes for heart disease. Heart. 2007 Jul;93(7):875-9. doi: 10.1136/hrt.2005.085365. PMID: 17569816; PMCID: PMC1994446.