Singer’s Death Raises Awareness of SCA

The sudden and unexpected death of singer and songwriter Michael Jackson has helped raise public awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The Heart Rhythm Society immediately responded to numerous inquiries by national and trade media for clinical expertise to shed light on possible causes or contributing factors to Jackson’s death as well as SCA and heart rhythm disorders. The final determination of cause of death is expected to take weeks pending completion of all tests performed during his autopsy.

Society leadership, including current president Richard L. Page, MD, FHRS, past presidents N.A. Mark Estes, III, MD, FHRS, CCDS and Bruce D. Lindsay, MD, FHRS as well as Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS, CCDS and HeartRhythm Journal Editor-in-Chief Douglas P. Zipes, MD, FHRS have all been interviewed extensively since Jackson's death due to "cardiac arrest" was announced on June 25, 2009. Among the articles that relied on the Society's expertise:

• Wall Street Journal Health Blog, “After Jackson’s Death, Tracking Causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest”
• Reuters, “Q+A: How painkillers could cause cardiac arrest”
• HealthDay, “Jackson's Death Puts Spotlight on Sudden Cardiac Arrest”
• MSNBC.com, “Fitness risk after 50: Did Jackson do too much?”
• USA Today, "Without Treatment, Cardiac Arrest Kills Quickly"

These interviews helped raise awareness and knowledge by offering facts and insights around the reasons SCA can occur. SCA is a leading cause of death in this country, taking the lives of more than 250,000 people each year — more than breast cancer, lung cancer, stroke, or AIDS. It occurs abruptly and without warning, and two-thirds of SCA deaths occur without any prior indications of heart disease.

There remains a need for greater education and awareness. In 2008, the Society conducted a national poll of adults in the United States to uncover awareness levels and perceptions related to SCA diagnosis, treatment and therapies. Among that survey's findings:

• More than 70 percent of survey respondents thought of SCA as a type of heart attack; it is not. A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, is when a blockage in a blood vessel interrupts the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, causing the heart muscle to die. SCA occurs when the heart stops working and no blood can be pumped to the rest of the body
• Nearly 40 percent of respondents didn’t realize that most people who die from SCA have no outward indications of heart disease. In fact, SCA can happen to people of all ages and health conditions. Even when there are warning signs, most people don’t recognize them
• Just one in three respondents correctly estimated the critical treatment time of 4 to 6 minutes to receive CPR or a life-saving shock from an automatic external defibrillator (AED) in order to have a chance of surviving
• Nearly 60 percent of respondents did not know that implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are the most effective treatment to protect those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest

The Society's Patient Information is recognized as a leading source of information for patients and their caregivers for heart rhythm disorders and its congressional advocacy efforts focus on issues of critical importance to the heart rhythm physician, scientist, allied health professional, and patient, including sudden cardiac arrest prevention.