Sudden cardiac death is a worldwide pandemic. Over the last years, basic and clinical research has greatly contributed to our understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, preventive measures and therapy for sudden cardiac death. The advent of the new era of human gene discovering has clarified the genetic basis for inherited arrhythmogenic syndromes potentially leading to sudden cardiac death. Primary prevention measures against coronary artery disease have also translated into a decrease of the incidence of sudden cardiac death in adults, and the advent of implantable defibrillators has been proven to reduce mortality in patients at risk.
This book has the aim of providing a concise yet comprehensive update on the major advances in the field of epidemiology, genetics and preventive measures for sudden cardiac death.