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Nov. 15, 2006 (Chicago) -- A noninvasive test that uses computer technology to gauge whether a person is at risk of sudden cardiac death can help doctors determine who will benefit from implanted defibrillators, researchers report.
In a study of more than 500 people who had some history of heart damage, the test was just as accurate as the more invasive electrophysiological screen now in use, says David S. Rosenbaum, MD, professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
But unlike standard electrophysiological screening, the new test "is noninvasive, safe, and relatively inexpensive," he tells WebMD. "That makes it much more suitable as a screening tool to apply to a large population."
The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA).
Sudden Cardiac Death Leading Killer
Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of natural death in the U.S., taking the lives of about 325,000 adults each year.
Sudden cardiac death occurs when the electrical system to the heart malfunctions. This can cause a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm. The victim can lose consciousness and death can occur unless emergency treatment is begun immediately.
People at high risk of sudden cardiac death due to a heart attackheart attack or other cardiac damage are often fitted with implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). The ICD monitors a person's heart rate and rhythm. If the heartbeat becomes abnormal, ICDs deliver an electrical jolt, shocking the heart back to normal rhythm.