17 March, 2025

Sudden Death in adults and athletes: causes, prevention, and how to detect it in time

The tragic loss of Dr. Carles Miñarro, FC Barcelona’s doctor, and former Catalan water polo player Óscar Rey, bronze medalist at the 2006 European Championship, has shocked the sports and medical communities. Both passed away suddenly, highlighting the importance of understanding and preventing sudden death in adults and athletes.

What is Sudden Death?

Sudden cardiac death is the unexpected cessation of heart activity due to a malignant arrhythmia. In individuals over 60, the most common cause is coronary artery disease. However, in young adults and athletes, it can result from hereditary heart conditions, channelopathies, or cardiomyopathies, which are genetic heart diseases that predispose individuals to life-threatening arrhythmias.

Difference between Sudden Death and Heart Attack

It is essential to distinguish between sudden death and a heart attack. A myocardial infarction occurs when a heart artery is blocked by a clot, preventing blood flow to the heart muscle. While a heart attack can trigger a fatal arrhythmia, it does not always result in sudden death.

Causes of Sudden Death in adults and athletes

In young individuals and athletes, sudden death is usually related to genetic heart disorders. These include:

• Brugada Syndrome
• Long QT Syndrome
• Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy

A high-intensity physical effort can trigger a fatal arrhythmia in these cases.

How to prevent Sudden Death in sports?

The prevention of sudden death in athletes is crucial to reducing its incidence. Dr. Elena Arbelo, a cardiologist at barnaclínic+, emphasizes the importance of:

• Regular cardiac check-ups for individuals with a family history of sudden death or symptoms such as fainting, palpitations, or chest pain.
• Avoiding medications that may trigger arrhythmias.
• Comprehensive screening of high-performance athletes using electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and stress tests.
• Considering implantable defibrillators for high-risk patients.
• Genetic counseling and family evaluations, since many of these conditions are hereditary.

How to detect Hereditary Heart Diseases in time?

Early diagnosis of hereditary heart diseases is essential to preventing sudden death in adults. At barnaclínic+, the Family Heart Disease Unit offers:

• Early diagnosis through clinical and genetic studies.
• Personalized risk assessment for athletes and relatives.
• Advanced treatments to prevent sudden death in sports.
• Guidance for pregnancies in patients with hereditary heart conditions.

Who is at higher risk of Sudden Death?

While sudden death in adults can affect anyone, certain factors increase the risk:

• Family history of sudden death or hereditary heart diseases.
• Unexplained previous symptoms such as fainting, severe dizziness, or palpitations.
• Engaging in high-intensity sports without prior medical evaluation.
• Undiagnosed heart conditions, such as cardiomyopathies or channelopathies.
• Use of certain drugs or substances that may trigger arrhythmias.

A Prevention Message

Early detection saves lives. If you have a family history of sudden death in adults or hereditary heart diseases, seek a cardiology evaluation with specialists. Sudden death is preventable in many cases if detected in time.