Rapid access to automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) is important but will not help everyone who collapses because of a cardiac abnormality, a medical conference was told at the weekend.
Speaking at the annual West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation (Croí) meeting in Inishboffin, Co Galway, Dr Jim Crowley, consultant cardiologist at University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) said: "It is well recognised that Sudden Cardiac Death [ SCD] is due to the development of a lethal arrythmia-ventricular fibrillation. We know that if the rhythm disturbance is treated with shock therapy quickly the patient can be successfully resuscitated"
However, Dr Crowley told The Irish Times that the window of opportunity to resuscitate falls off rapidly. "If the arrythmia is present for more than 10 minutes, the chance of recovery is very low."
He said that SCD was an extremely traumatic event for the victim's family and community and that it could have long-term effects by inducing a fear of exercise.
"Young people need to exercise. SCD is an unusual condition. The long-term mortality from stopping exercise is a lot greater than the mortality from a condition that is rare," he said.
Dr Pat Nash, a consultant cardiologist at UCHG, told doctors that the best method for establishing the risk of SCD was to use a screening questionnaire.
If this showed evidence of a family history of the condition involving a first-degree relative under the age of 40, then it was advisable to carry out further tests on the person's heart.
Both cardiologists recommended the development of community-based programmes under which AEDs are placed at strategic locations in the community.
Croí has helped to set up over 100 such programmes in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, they said.