Sudden cardiac death

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as an unexpected death that occurs within 1 hour of onset of symptoms. In the general population, SCD occurs about once every minute and thus represents a serious health issue. The majority of SCDs are associated in some way with coronary artery disease (CAD), and the conditions share similar risk factors. Long-term prevention of sudden death thus centers on primary prevention and treatment of CAD. Effective intervention by the primary care physician involves both risk reduction techniques for CAD and attempts to identify patients at high risk for SCD.