ABOUT SCA
ABOUT SCA
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According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Sudden Cardiac Arrest accounts for more than 350,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. In fact, SCA claims one life every 90 seconds, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS. Unfortunately, 95 percent of people who experience SCA die as a result, mainly because treatment within minutes is not accessible.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Sudden Cardiac Arrest accounts for more than 350,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. In fact, SCA claims one life every 90 seconds, taking more lives each year than breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS. Unfortunately, 95 percent of people who experience SCA die as a result, mainly because treatment within minutes is not accessible.
350,000
350,000
people of all ages experience EMS-assessed, out-of-hospital non-traumatic SCA each year
#1
#1
killer of student athletes
72
72
a young athlete dies every 72 hours from SCA
17.5
17.5
the average age when SCD occurs in young athletes
67%
67%
More than two thirds of young athletes who die suddenly are basketball and football players
91%
91%
of SCA victims die because there was a delay in emergency response
1 in 300
1 in 300
youth have an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk for SCA
1 in 10
1 in 10
Today only 1 in 10 victims survives SCA, but 5 in 10 could survive if bystanders gave CPR and used AEDs immediately
It is challenging to define what “unexpected” or “sudden” death is. SCD has been defined as unexpected death without an obvious non-cardiac cause that occurs within 1 hour of symptom onset (witnessed) or within 24 hours of last being observed in normal health (unwitnessed); however, this definition is difficult to apply in the real-world setting.
It is challenging to define what “unexpected” or “sudden” death is. SCD has been defined as unexpected death without an obvious non-cardiac cause that occurs within 1 hour of symptom onset (witnessed) or within 24 hours of last being observed in normal health (unwitnessed); however, this definition is difficult to apply in the real-world setting.
WHAT IS SCA?
WHAT IS SCA?
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the condition in which the heart unexpectedly ceases to function. Often, this is because of irregular and rapid quivering of the heart’s lower pumping chambers (ventricles) called ventricular fibrillation. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, causing loss of consciousness or seizure-like activity in seconds.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the condition in which the heart unexpectedly ceases to function. Often, this is because of irregular and rapid quivering of the heart’s lower pumping chambers (ventricles) called ventricular fibrillation. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, causing loss of consciousness or seizure-like activity in seconds.
If not treated within minutes, SCA results in death. The normal rhythm of the heart can only be restored with defibrillation, an electrical shock that is safely delivered to the chest by an automated external defibrillator (AED).
If not treated within minutes, SCA results in death. The normal rhythm of the heart can only be restored with defibrillation, an electrical shock that is safely delivered to the chest by an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is NOT a heart attack, though it is frequently the outcome of an underlying heart condition. It can also occur secondary to other conditions such as impact to the chest, heat stroke, asthma, drowning, electrocution, allergic reaction, or medication. Victims of SCA may never experience any warning signs. Of these victims, the outcome is often sudden death for thousands of children, teens and young adults.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is NOT a heart attack, though it is frequently the outcome of an underlying heart condition. It can also occur secondary to other conditions such as impact to the chest, heat stroke, asthma, drowning, electrocution, allergic reaction, or medication. Victims of SCA may never experience any warning signs. Of these victims, the outcome is often sudden death for thousands of children, teens and young adults.
Cardiovascular disease is the second leading medical cause of death in children and adolescents in the United States.¹ And, SCA is the leading cause of death in student athletes during sports and exercise, with approximately 9,500 youth suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year. The true prevalence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in youth, however, is unknown due to the lack of a mandatory and systematic national registry.
Cardiovascular disease is the second leading medical cause of death in children and adolescents in the United States.¹ And, SCA is the leading cause of death in student athletes during sports and exercise, with approximately 9,500 youth suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year. The true prevalence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in youth, however, is unknown due to the lack of a mandatory and systematic national registry.
¹ Center for Disease Control (CDC) National Vital Statistics Report for 2005, published April 2008, Volume 56, Number 10
¹ Center for Disease Control (CDC) National Vital Statistics Report for 2005, published April 2008, Volume 56, Number 10
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Many of the statistics set forth in this compilation are derived from the American Heart Association’s 2017 update on Heart & Stroke Statistics, Boston Scientific's Young Athletes & Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) fact sheet, and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.
Many of the statistics set forth in this compilation are derived from the American Heart Association’s 2017 update on Heart & Stroke Statistics, Boston Scientific's Young Athletes & Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) fact sheet, and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.
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