Noninvasive Risk Stratification for Sudden Cardiac Death

Background and Purpose: Accurate identification of individuals who are likely to die of cardiac arrhythmias would allow selective use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and other therapies to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD). A vast amount of research energy has been spent in attempts to find noninvasive tests that can separate individuals into high-risk and low-risk groups. This scientific statement summarizes the findings of those studies.

Key Points:

1. Noninvasive tests evaluated to date measure:

• Slowed conduction (QRS duration, signal-averaged electrocardiogram)

• Variations in ventricular repolarization (QT interval, QT dis…