Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) works to prevent sudden cardiac death in young people through four key areas: Screening, Research, Support, and Awareness. We provide free cardiac screening to identify hidden heart conditions early, fund vital research to improve diagnosis and treatment, and offer specialist bereavement support to families affected by young sudden cardiac death. Through national campaigns and education, we raise awareness of these conditions and the importance of early detection.
1 in 300 people CRY screens will have a potentially life-threatening heart condition which will benefit from lifestyle advice, treatment and sometimes corrective surgery; whilst one in 100 people will have a condition that could cause problems later in life if they were unaware of it.
CRY provides free cardiac screening for young people aged 14–35 to identify hidden heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Each screening includes an ECG and, where necessary, an echocardiogram, interpreted by expert cardiologists. These screenings are funded entirely through donations and community fundraising, making them accessible to all regardless of financial circumstances. Since 1995, CRY has conducted over 337,000 screenings, helping detect thousands of potentially life-threatening conditions early.
CRY funds world-leading research into inherited and structural heart conditions, working closely with specialist cardiologists and academic institutions. This research improves understanding of why sudden cardiac deaths occur, informs national clinical guidelines, and drives innovation in diagnosis and treatment. CRY also publishes peer-reviewed studies and supports PhD fellows to ensure continuous progress in the field.
CRY offers specialist bereavement support for families affected by young sudden cardiac death, including one-to-one counselling, peer support groups, and family events. In addition, CRY operates myheart, a unique support network for young people living with diagnosed cardiac conditions. myheart provides a safe space for members to share experiences, access expert advice, and receive emotional support, helping them manage their condition and reduce isolation.
Through national campaigns, educational programs, and partnerships with schools, sports clubs, and communities, CRY raises awareness of cardiac risk in young people and the importance of early detection. We work to ensure that symptoms such as fainting, chest pain, or palpitations are not dismissed and that families, coaches, and healthcare professionals understand the need for proactive screening.
Political voice and influence
An APPG would give the issue of young sudden cardiac deaths a formal presence in Parliament, creating a dedicated forum for MPs and Lords to discuss and champion the cause across party lines. This cross-party support demonstrates that preventing young cardiac deaths isn’t a partisan issue.
Policy development
The group would push for practical policy changes such as:
Raising awareness
Young sudden cardiac death is often invisible in public health discussions because it’s relatively rare but devastating. An APPG would help keep the issue on the parliamentary agenda and in the media, challenging the misconception that heart conditions only affect older people.
Evidence gathering
APPGs can conduct inquiries and gather evidence from families, medical professionals, and charities like CRY, producing reports that influence government policy and public understanding.
Building momentum
With CRY’s established track record in screening and research, an APPG would provide a parliamentary platform to amplify this work and potentially achieve legislative or funding breakthroughs that might otherwise take years.
CRY is urging all MPs to sign a pledge to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death to help save young lives.
Why do we need MPs to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death?
UK healthcare policy to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths is informed by a number of guidelines and recommendations. These include:
Current UK policies are contradictory, with current guidelines based on inconsistent assessments of the incidence, methods of diagnosis and management of cardiac conditions in young people.
The UK needs a national strategy to ensure the guidelines and policies to prevent young sudden cardiac death are consistent. The first stage of a national strategy should be to correctly acknowledge the incidence and impact of these deaths.
The latest report from the UK National Screening Committee (LINK) and a recent letter to the government from the UK Statistics Authority (LINK) provide clear evidence that the number of young sudden cardiac deaths (age 35 and under) is significantly under-reported.
In 2015, policy advisors considered the risk of young sudden cardiac death “tiny” and said that “the overwhelming majority of heart attacks happen in elderly people (LINK)
The National Screening Committee consultation document does NOT recommend population screening for the risk of sudden cardiac death in the young.
A key issue in understanding the impact is correctly interpreting the incidence of Young Sudden Cardiac Death
The NSC document states, “There continues to be uncertainty as to the true incidence of SCD, although most studies in the general population reported an incidence of between 1 and 2 cases per 100,000 person-years.”
CRY’s internationally renowned research has also shown an incidence of 1.8 deaths per 100,000 per year in the UK. In simple terms this equates with 12 young sudden cardiac deaths per week, more than 600 young sudden cardiac deaths per year in the UK.
So why does the NSC continue to refer to this as “low incidence”? Sudden cardiac death is one of the most common causes of death in young people, the most common cause of death in young athletes and has a massive impact on family, friends and local communities
It is unacceptable that hundreds of young people continue to die suddenly every year from cardiac conditions which could be identified through screening with an ECG.
The UK needs a National Strategy to Prevent Young Sudden Cardiac Deaths to help save young lives
Attending a Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) screening event in your constituency, you will demonstrate your commitment to supporting life-saving initiatives and raising awareness of undiagnosed heart conditions among young people. Your presence sends a clear and powerful message: early detection saves lives, and together we can reduce the devastating impact of young sudden cardiac death. We would be delighted to welcome you and work with you to make a meaningful difference.