Prominent heart charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) announced this month at a packed Parliamentary Reception attended by its newest patron, David Walliams of ‘Little Britain’ fame, it will be funding new research into the causes of sudden cardiac death in young people. Pathologist and CRY supporter Dr Mary Sheppard will be undertaking the research thanks to a £180,000 grant from the charity.

This grant, raised by superb fundraising efforts from CRY supporter Simon Halliday, ex International England Rugby player, will aid Dr Sheppard in her pioneering research. At the recent annual CRY parliamentary reception she spoke of the dramatic difference this grant will make. She explained: “I needed a research assistant to help me do the work. I also needed academic input to set up a database, because believe it or not, we do not know how many [sudden cardiac deaths] occur throughout the country. If you don’t know the numbers, how are you going to know the causes of these sudden cardiac deaths?”

It is estimated that approximately 80% of all non-traumatic sudden deaths in young competitive athletes are due to inherited / congenital structural or functional cardiovascular abnormalities. A majority of these abnormalities are left undetected and show no symptoms until a tragedy occurs, as shown by the vast number of case studies whereby young people suddenly die whilst participating in sport.

A sudden cardiac death occurs, on average, eight times a week. Many of these tragedies involve young active people with undiagnosed cardiac problems. Andy Burnham, the new Minister for the Department of Health, also speaking at the CRY parliamentary reception, talked about a young boy who died suddenly in his constituency. He said: “It just leaves the community, a whole community, utterly in despair trying to understand and rationalise what has happened and that’s why the work of CRY is so crucially important in trying to foster an understanding of this issue but also to get some change within the Health Service, and better understanding of how to deal with it”.

With the support of the Royal Brompton Hospital London, Imperial College London, and the National Heart and Lung Institute, Dr Sheppard will now be able to undertake more in-depth research. She has access to over 700 hearts which have been referred to her over a period of five years from other pathologists, who are often uncertain about sudden cardiac death due to the lack of research.

This formative research by Dr Sheppard will possibly lead to the set up of systems such as the current screening process of school children in Italy. Thanks to a ten year campaign by CRY, the screening of young people is beginning to take place in Britain, which will help to identify cardiac abnormalities in childhood therefore reducing the number of sudden cardiac deaths. Many young people are fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) which means they can lead a normal life.

At the CRY reception, Mike (24) a medical student, explained his story: “Back in November I was playing a game of rugby and I collapsed with a cardiac arrest. I was later diagnosed with ARVC which is Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, and I had an ICD and have been well ever since”.  Screening involves a simple ECG which could effectively save hundreds of young lives, by detecting cardiac abnormalities before they results in sudden death. 

‘Little Britain’ comedian David Walliams, fresh from his cross-channel swim the day before, also attended the reception and spoke of CRY’s scope as a charity. He said: “Not only does it promote heart screening in the young but it also offers counselling for those who have suffered a loss. It's a real honour for me to be associated with this amazing charity".

ENDS

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Notes to editors:

• CRY is a charity founded in May 1995 to raise awareness of Cardiac Risk in the Young - Sudden Cardiac Death, Sudden Death Syndrome (SADS)

• CRY offers support to those who have suffered a loss through a network of affected families & counselling

• CRY promotes heart screening, ECG Testing Programmes & contributes to medical research

• CRY donates medical equipment to doctors' surgeries and hospitals. To date CRY has donated over £600,000 of cardiac equipment for use in GP surgeries, Cardiac Wards and A&E Departments

• CRY funds the CRY Centre for Sports Cardiology at the Olympic Medical Institute