Causes

CRY’s research is preventing tragedies by transforming how we understand the causes of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD).

In order for us to understand the causes of the tragedies our research focuses on improving our understanding of

  • the number of people living with cardiac conditions
    • the prevalence of the conditions which can cause YSCD
  • the number of young people dying of these conditions
    • the incidence of YSCD
  • the specific cardiac conditions that can cause YSCD
    • Cardiomyopathies (e.g. HCM, ARVC, DCM)
    • Ion channelopathies (e.g. Long QT, Brugada syndrome, CPVT
    • Acquired conditions (e.g. Myocarditis)
    • Congenital abnormalities (e.g. WPW, Coronary Artery Anomalies)
    • Marfans syndrome
    • When no cause can be identified after a tragedy – SADS
  • the specific circumstances around each YSCD
    • During sport or at rest
    • Whilst taking medications which can affect the heart

When we talk about research it is important to understand that through funding research CRY are able to help families right now. It is through our research programme that we are able to provide essential clinical support services in both cardiology and pathology. And it is the experience we gain through providing these clinical services which enables us to publish unique ground breaking papers which are transforming the way we understand cardiac conditions in young people.

By funding the CRY centre for Cardiac Pathology with Professor Mary Sheppard we are, for the first time, able to provide powerful evidence about the specific conditions which cause young sudden cardiac deaths; for instance we now know that SADS deaths are far more common than previously believed.