SUDDEN DEATH IN ATHLETES

Course overview

SUDDEN DEATH IN ATHLETES HAS BEEN A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE IN THE FIELDS OF SPORTS MEDICINE, CARDIOLOGY, PRIMARY CARE, AND PEDIATRICS. BY FAR THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF UNEXPECTED DEATH FOR A YOUNGER ATHLETE ON THE COMPETITIVE FIELD IS CARDIAC ILLNESS; USUALLY THAT OF CONGENITAL ETIOLOGY. HOWEVER, THE USE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS, PEPTIDE HORMONES, AND STIMULANTS HAVE LED TO THE EMERGENCE OF ACQUIRED HEART DISEASE IN YOUNGER AND MIDDLE-AGED ATHLETES. IN CONTRAST, SUDDEN DEATH IN AN OLDER ATHLETE IS TYPICALLY DUE TO ATHEROSCLEROTIC CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT OF STRUCTURAL AND NONSTRUCTURAL CAUSES OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH IN ATHLETES AND STRESSES THE ROLE OF TEAM-BASED INTERPROFESSIONAL CARE FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.