9% of young female patients that were flagged by voluntary screening and referred for further evaluation were discovered to have a condition associated with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD), according to research being presented at the British Cardiovascular Society’s Annual Conference in Manchester this week.
A team of researchers from the University of East Anglia and St George’s University of London looked at outcomes of the nationwide voluntary cardiac screening programme, focusing on data on young females aged between 14 and 35 years old, which were 39,661 in total over the span of 10 years.
The evaluation, which consisted of a health questionnaire, 12-lead ECG and selective echocardiography, as well as a consultation with an attending cardiologist, flagged 1,056 females aged 14 to 35 for further investigation. Of these, 175 were diagnosed with a cardiac condition, including 94 with a disorder associated with SCD – during the follow-up period (mean 6.0+2.5 years), a further 92 were diagnosed with a cardiac condition, of which 28 were identified with a condition associated with SCD. To put into perspective, the incidence of SCA/SCD was 2.3/100,000 person-years.
Dr Louise Buchanan, from the British Cardiovascular Society, said: “What the study shows us as clinicians is that cardiac screening is an incredibly important component of patient care. We know that women in the UK are underrepresented, undertreated, and importantly, underdiagnosed in clinical areas of cardiovascular care.
“The numbers worth paying attention to in this study are the age bracket – very young to young female patients who underwent voluntary cardiac screening, the majority of which (95%) non-athletes, and the majority of which (97%) white, were still flagged for further evaluation and discovered to have cardiac conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death. There is a misconception that cardiac arrest and cardiac conditions mostly happen to older men, which cardiologists know not to be true. A number of risk factors, from high blood pressure to high cholesterol, also contribute to our heart health. Furthermore, heart disease does not discriminate by sex, either. We do need further research to assess the impact of heart disease in women and how we can deliver equitable cardiovascular care.”
Note to editors:
If using this study, please ensure you mention that the study was presented at the British Cardiovascular Society’s Annual Conference.
The conference will be held at Manchester Central from 1 to 3 June 2026, and is attended by UK and international cardiologists and healthcare professionals.
About the BCS
The British Cardiovascular Society is a membership association, with a pivotal role to play in the delivery of cardiovascular health across the UK, supporting and representing all those working in the fields of cardiovascular care and research. We do this through our educational activities, our key roles in the organisation of cardiology training and production of clinical guidelines, and our input into national policy.
We currently have over 3,000 members, including consultant cardiologists, resident cardiologists, nurses, GPs with a special interest in cardiology, non-clinical scientists and technicians.
For further information about the charity, visit britishcardiovascularsociety.org.uk.