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Monday 6 July 2026

Peer Reviewed

Perspectives

Sudden cardiac death in the athlete

Justin Ghosh, Michael J Kilborn

Recent articles on:
Cardiac arrest

ECG changes in athletes – what is normal and when should I worry?

Sudden cardiac death. Recognising and mitigating the risk

Implantable defibrillators: preventing sudden cardiac death

An older man with supraventricular tachycardia who has a cardiac arrest

Sudden cardiac death in the athlete

Recent articles on:
Heart diseases

An abnormal ECG and a sudden collapse

Why is this patient feeling faint?

What’s my heart disease risk, doctor? A practical guide to the 2023 Australian CVD risk guideline

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: hiding in plain sight?

Sinus pause and arrest

Abstract

Physiological stress may trigger fatal cardiac events in athletes with an unknown cardiac condition.

Key Points

The presence of exertional symptoms such as syncope, chest pain or palpitations should trigger referral of the patient for specialist assessment.
Apparent good health and exercise capacity provide no reassurance regarding potentially serious inheritable conditions.
Life-saving treatments such as implantable defibrillators, catheter ablations and medications are available and appropriate for people at high or moderate risk of sudden cardiac arrest.