Symptoms of 'silent killer' condition are different in men and women
Cardiac arrest kills 90 per cent of victims, but the signs of a heart that has stopped beating can be drastically different for women and men.
As the most deadly heart condition, research has revealed that cardiac arrest can look very different for women. However, most of the red flags we have been warned of only apply to men.
Researchers from the Smidt Heart Institute at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in the US are urging people to understand how symptoms can differ so that women affected are noticed, and taken to hospital .
A study found that half of individuals who experienced a sudden cardiac arrest also experienced a telling sign one day before their loss of heart function.
Women will feel breathless up to 24 hours before whereas men will likely feel chest pains.
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Meanwhile, smaller groups of both men and women experienced palpitations, seizure-like activity, and flu-like symptoms.
Women will feel breathless up to 24 hours before whereas men will likely feel chest pains (Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)Senior study author and sudden cardiac arrest expert Dr Sumeet Chugh said: "Harnessing warning symptoms to perform effective triage for those who need to make a 911 call could lead to early intervention and prevention of imminent death. Our findings could lead to a new paradigm for prevention of sudden cardiac death."
The team studied data from the ongoing Prediction of Sudden Death in Multi-Ethnic Communities (PRESTO) Study in Ventura County, California.
They also worked with data from the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study (SUDS), based in Portland, Oregon.
Dr Chugh said: "It takes a village to do this work. We initiated the SUDS study 22 years ago and the PRESTO study eight years ago.
“These cohorts have provided invaluable lessons along the way.
"Importantly, none of this work would have been possible without the partnership and support of first responders, medical examiners, and the hospital systems that deliver care within these communities."
The investigators evaluated the prevalence of individual symptoms and sets of symptoms prior to sudden cardiac arrest. They then compared these findings to control groups that also sought emergency medical care.
This study will hopefully pave the way for additional prospective studies that will combine all symptoms with other features to enhance the prediction of imminent sudden cardiac arrest.
Dr Chugh added: "Next we will supplement these key sex-specific warning symptoms with additional features as clinical profiles and biometric measures for improved prediction of sudden cardiac arrest."
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Symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest are immediate and severe and often mean a sudden collapse, which can include unconsciousness, no pulse, and no breathing. However, there is currently no formal care plan for cardiac arrest survivors consistently applied across the UK.
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