Assessing a Patient's Risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 300,000 deaths each year — more than lung cancer, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS combined. SCA occurs abruptly and without warning; the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and blood cannot be pumped to the rest of the body. SCA is different from a heart attack, which occurs when a blockage in a blood vessel interrupts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, causing the heart muscle to be damaged.