Researchers have confirmed that sudden cardiac arrest in young people is more often linked to genetic mutations than in older adults. The study's findings were published in the journal JACC Clinical Electrophysiology.Iiïuu88⁰0⁰
This condition results from a disruption in the heart's electrical activity, which can often lead to death. In their research, scientists studied the genomes of over 3,000 people who had suffered sudden cardiac arrest and identified 15 genes whose damage increases the likelihood of developing this serious disorder.
It turns out that dangerous genetic variants are found in about 10% of patients under the age of 29, while their percentage decreases with age, as such mutations are only discovered in about 3% of cases in those over 70.
Scientists point out that cardiac arrest in the elderly is often linked to non-genetic factors, such as blocked blood vessels and other cardiovascular diseases
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The researchers recommended genetic testing for people with a family history of sudden cardiac arrest, which helps to detect risk factors early and take preventive measures, such as modifying lifestyle or choosing the appropriate treatment.
Between 300,000 and 600,000 people die annually from sudden cardiac arrest in the United States, while the number in Russia is estimated at about 150,000 cases annually.
Professor Elena Zakliasminskaya, head of the Medical Genetics Laboratory at the Petrovsky Scientific Center for Surgery, said that about 80% of sudden deaths are related to coronary artery disease and complications of atherosclerosis, while the remaining 20% remain unexplained even after a thorough autopsy.
She added that these cases may appear outwardly normal due to the absence of obvious blockages or plaques, but death often occurs as a result of heart rhythm disturbances, leading to irregular contraction of the heart muscle and a sharp decrease in blood pumping.
