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13
Young people with heart abnormalities found so far thanks to CRY and
Philips’ first free testing tour
Sir Ian Botham lends
his heart to demonstrate how simple tests for Sudden Death Syndrome are
Currently, 13 young people have been found to have heart abnormalities
from testing that had taken place on the tour. These
conditions, which otherwise may have gone unnoticed, have now been
referred into the system so that GPs can arrange appropriate follow-up
medical treatment from experts.
 Testing took place in a mobile unit, sponsored by Philips, consisting of
three rooms where Philips’ ECG and ECHO equipment has been used to test
young people. A doctor and team of physiologists have been present at
all locations throughout the tour.
Statistics tell us that currently 12 apparently young and fit people die
each week in the UK from Sudden Death Syndrome.*
A
simple ECG (electrocardiogram) or ultrasound non-invasive scan can detect these
abnormalities before they prove fatal.
The tour finishes today in
Brentford, London at Brentford FC's Griffin Park.
Brentford FC are currently managed by CRY Patron Andy Scott, whose own
football playing career was cut short after he was diagnosed with
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Initial
results of
CRY Philips Test My Heart Tour 09
The
initial results of over 2,000 young people tested during the CRY
Philips Test My Heart Tour 09 show that 8.8% of all those who had an
ECG required a supplementary ultrasound test. Potentially fatal heart
conditions were found in four young people, including two cases of
Brugada, a Cardiomyopathy and a WPW. Other important conditions
requiring surgery or lifestyle modifications were found in a further
nine people. In all, nine different types of heart condition were
identified.
Peter Maskell, Chairman, Philips UK, said:
“The results of the CRY Philips Test My Heart Tour demonstrate the
importance of screenings, particularly for those involved in competitive
sports. We have identified a number of cases which may have proven fatal
if left undetected, highlighting how much needs to be done to prevent
Sudden Death Syndrome. With our heritage in healthcare Philips is
extremely proud to have partnered with CRY in this initiative.”
Alison Cox, CEO, CRY,
said: "80% of young people who die suddenly have no previous
symptoms and the only way to find out if they are at risk is through
screening. These results show that screening can save the lives of fit
and healthy young people who have no idea they are at risk. CRY is most
grateful to Philips for making this high impact tour possible and to our
bereaved families and the Gwyneth Forrester Trust for sponsoring the
free places we have been able to offer.”
Sir Ian Botham as you
have never seen him before
To
celebrate the culmination of the
CRY Philips Test My
Heart Tour
09, cricket legend and Honorary CRY President, Sir Ian Botham, 53,
underwent an ultrasound examination using the
latest Philips’ ECHO equipment. The result, the
first ever image of the heart of Sir Ian
Botham, is released today.
 
Sir Ian Botham OBE,
Honorary CRY President, said:
“The CRY Philips Test My Heart Tour 09 has detected potentially fatal
conditions in people that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
The painless
procedure I underwent can save young lives and that is why the work that
CRY has done with Philips to bring about this tour is so important.”
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CRY Philips
Test My Heart Tour 09 results to date
Please note: Figures do not include Welwyn Garden City and
Brentford events as results of tests not complete.
|
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Number
screened: |
1936 |
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No of
echocardiograms |
170 (8.8%)* |
|
No of
individuals cleared after echo |
125 (73% of
individuals needing echos); 98.2% of the total group |
|
No of
individuals requiring further tests |
1.8%**
|
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No of
individuals with a diagnosis |
13 (0.7%) *** |
|
Diagnoses
made: |
Bicuspid
aortic valve
Patent formen
ovale
Brugada ECG
pattern
Mitral valve
prolapse
WPW
Cardiomyopathy
ASD
RVOT VT
HT related
heart disease |
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
|
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* This figure
is higher than usual because some of the screenings involved
evaluation of national athletes e.g. water polo, female football
players (Echo tests were performed on all people in these groups
due to CRY’s interest in athlete’s hearts). |
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** This is
because the tour dealt with individuals with family histories of
sudden cardiac death where ECG and Echo were not enough |
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*** Not all
the results from individuals requiring further investigations
are complete |
*Figures
are based on official statistics [ONS 2006] citing the cause of
sudden death among people aged 35 and under.
- Ends-
For further
information, please contact:
Elizabeth Warburton /
Liam Turner
Fleishman Hillard
0207 395 7095 / 0207
395 7056
elizabeth.warburton@fleishman.com /
liam.turner@fleishman.com
For further
information about Philips, please contact:
Laura Wilkinson /
Deneice Clark
Philips Electronics
UK
01483 298 677 / 01483
298 517
Laura.j.wilkinson@philips.com /
deneice.clark@philips.com
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips
Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified
Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives
through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle
and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into
people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the
brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the
Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 116,000 employees in more
than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the
company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home
healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting
applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and
pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and
grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips
is located at
www.philips.com/newscenter.
About CRY
Sudden death syndrome
strikes down hundreds of young people – many of whom were involved in
sport – at the prime of their lives. Sport does not cause this problem -
but it can exacerbate an existing undiagnosed condition and the high
risk group is the young. 80% of those that die have had no discernible
symptoms. The only way to identify those young people that are
“asymptomatic” is through screening.
CRY was founded in
May 1995 to raise awareness of Sudden
Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS). As well as campaigning
and lobbying and the provision of its
subsidised
cardiac screening programme for young people (35 and under), the charity
also provides
counselling and support to
bereaved families as well as young individuals who may be diagnosed.
Sudden Cardiac Death
(SCD) is an umbrella term for a number of different heart conditions
that affect fit and healthy people which, if not treated can result in a
dramatic and or / spontaneous death. In about one in 20 cases of sudden
cardiac death, no recognised cause can be found – even after
post-mortem. This is then called Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).
Many experts are now claiming that the actual number of deaths recorded
could just be ‘the tip of the iceberg’ with many causes
being wrongly recorded at post mortem as asthma, epilepsy or even
drowning. |
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