What are the key clinical features that may suggest an inherited cardiac condition in a patient presenting with sudden cardiac death?

When a patient presents with sudden cardiac death, several key clinical features may suggest an underlying inherited cardiac condition.

A strong indicator is a family history of sudden cardiac death, particularly in young individuals, or a known family history of inherited cardiac conditions ². Transient loss of consciousness, or 'blackouts' (syncope), can also be a significant clinical feature, as it may indicate an underlying cardiac arrhythmia that could lead to sudden cardiac death ².

Inherited cardiac conditions, such as channelopathies and cardiomyopathies, are often implicated (Adler and Viskin, 2016; Schulze-Bahr and Dittmann, 2024; Isbister et al., 2024). In cases of concealed cardiomyopathy, the condition may not present with overt symptoms until a sudden cardiac arrest or death occurs (Isbister et al., 2024). Genetic cardiac diseases related to potassium channelopathies, for instance, can manifest with specific clinical features that predispose to arrhythmias (Adler and Viskin, 2016). The human genetics of cardiac arrhythmias are complex, and their presence can be a direct cause of sudden cardiac death (Schulze-Bahr and Dittmann, 2024).