What is the difference between Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) and Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)?

Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is a dramatic and/or spontaneous death that is thought to be (and usually is) caused by a heart condition and may have been brought on by exercise

Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS)

In one in every twenty cases of sudden cardiac death, no definite cause of death can be found, even after an expert cardiac pathologist has examined the heart. This is called Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome. (In the past it has also been called Sudden Adult Death Syndrome or Sudden Death Syndrome but, because it affects children too, the term Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome is now used.)

What happens after a young person dies suddenly and unexpectedly?

After an unexpected sudden death, the coroner for the area will usually request that a post-mortem be performed. This involves the body being examined by a pathologist. Small samples of tissue from organs including the heart are also taken and examined under a microscope. Usually, the pathologist can easily detect any abnormality like significant coronary artery disease. The coroner will take into account the circumstances of the death and, if necessary, will carry out tests for signs of any medication or drugs.

If it is difficult to assess the heart or to detect any abnormality in it, it is desirable for the help of an expert cardiac pathologist (one who specialises in the heart) to determine the cause of death.

This, at present, is likely to necessitate referral through the coroner or pathologist to an expert cardiac pathologist in the United Kingdom.

If you are a close blood relative of a person who has died of SADS it is important that you have tests to find out if you have inherited the same medical condition as the deceased person. Any sudden or suspicious deaths in the family, including cot death, suggest that there may be an underlying inherited condition meriting further investigation. Further information on these tests is available on our Screening page.