ABSTRACT
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for 50% of cases of cardiovascular mortality in the USA and other industrialized countries.1 An estimated 335 000 Americans die of coronary artery disease (CAD) each year, chiefly because of cardiac arrest due to ventricular arrhythmia.2 In Europe, 400 000 deaths annually are attributed to SCD.3
Despite improvement in age-adjusted mortality, cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of death in the USA.4 In many cases, SCD is the first manifestation of CAD. Approximately 85-90% of SCD are due to a first arrhythmic event. The remaining 10-15% are due to recurrent events.5
