Sudden cardiac arrest put many African Americans at risk

About 95 percent of the cases result in death

A lack of awareness and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest puts African Americans at greater risk of death from the condition, according to a new national survey released by the Heart Rhythm Society. The survey findings uncovered significant perception gaps between healthcare providers and consumers when it comes to understanding the condition, its symptoms, risk factors and treatments. Responsible for more than 350,000 U.S. deaths each year, sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. Approximately 95 percent of the cases result in death; however, it is proven most deadly in African Americans.

The new study, conducted by the Heart Rhythm Society with Ipsos Healthcare, found African Americans are significantly less familiar with sudden cardiac arrest, with only 18 percent able to correctly identify the condition, compared with 24 percent of the general population. More than 60 percent of African Americans who reported experiencing heart disease symptoms report not going to the doctor as a result. In addition, 90 percent of African Americans say their doctor has not talked to them about their risk for sudden cardiac arrest. These considerable disparities impact the immediate, life-saving treatments needed to prevent the deadly condition.

To reverse these inequalities and increase the dialogue between patients and physicians, the Heart Rhythm Society launched a nationwide public education campaign in partnership with the Association of Black Cardiologists and Shaun Robinson, Emmy-award-winning journalist and weekend co-anchor and correspondent for “Access Hollywood.” Coined “Arrest the Risk,” the initiative is designed to overcome the barriers to proper diagnosis and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest through educational resources, an SCA symptom tracker available on www.ArrestTheRisk.org, as well as a powerful public service announcement featuring Robinson. Additionally, the Society the Association of Black Cardiologist will conduct specific educational initiatives in cities with a high prevalence of the condition.

“Racial disparities in the prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) result in too many preventable deaths. The first step toward reducing these substantial discrepancies is to treat the underlying causes and manage the various risk factors,” said Walter Clair, MD, MPH, FHRS, electrophysiologist, Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, Nashville. “However, to bridge the gap, both at-risk consumers and their physicians must better understand the signs and symptoms of SCA, and physicians must translate evidence-based treatment guidelines, including the use of indicated medical devices, into their everyday clinical practice.”

Treatment guidelines recommend implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) as the standard of care for patients at risk for SCA, yet half as many African Americans as Caucasians or Hispanics say that ICDs are the best way to treat SCA. Indeed, studies show that the use of these devices and other innovative cardiovascular technologies are less common among African Americans. As a result, a large percentage of high-risk patients are not receiving these treatments, leading to a greater likelihood of death.

The HRS/Ipsos Healthcare study also surveyed 300 physicians (primary-care physicians, cardiologists and electrophysiologists) in the U.S. regarding their awareness of SCA as well as their treatment and referral history. Results of the survey showed that many physicians are unaware of the significant deadly impact of SCA. Nearly half of physicians (49 percent) did not identify SCA as the condition that poses the greatest risk to Americans, even though SCA claims more lives each year than stroke, breast cancer, lung cancer or AIDS. When asked to assess a case study, the majority of primary-care physicians do not identify at-risk patients, even when three or more risk factors are apparent. In addition, only half of primary-care physicians believe ICDs are the standard of care for patients at risk.

“By offering insight into the incidence of the condition, addressing diagnosis and treatment related challenges faced by healthcare professionals and working to ensure the implementation of guideline-based care, we can ensure that all patients – regardless of their race, gender or age – receive access to the best possible cardiac care,” said Ola Akinboboye, MD, MPH, MBA, President, ABC. “The Association of Black Cardiologists is proud to partner with HRS to lead this innovative, educational effort that sheds light on the current disparities in care, while also working on practical education to help eliminate these healthcare inequalities.”

“Since my grandfather and some other family members have suffered from heart disease, this is a condition that is very personal to me. However, I didn’t realize that this family history means I could be at increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest,” said Robinson. “Because SCA is so deadly, it is absolutely critical to talk to your doctor because early intervention can literally save your life.”