Media Room - USA Athlete

AWARENESS
CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME.

Savanna Brister shares Jordan’s story and why greater awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest matters.

WHY AWARENESS MATTERS

Andy Katz of TNT Sports

Andy Katz of TNT Sports received a live heart screening on-air at T-Mobile Arena during the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas, as Villanova faced BYU to open the college basketball season.

What made the night even more special was seeing Xavion Staton, a recent graduate of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, take the court as a freshman for BYU. As a senior at Bishop Gorman, Xavion was named Gatorade Nevada Boys Basketball Player of the Year and generously chose Vegas For Athletes as the recipient of his Gatorade Player of the Year grant

THE FACTS

THE #1 MEDICAL CAUSE OF DEATH IN YOUNG ATHLETES

a 2025 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) states that SCA is the leading medical cause of death among young competitive athletes

UNDERSTANDING SCA

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating effectively, preventing blood from reaching the brain and other vital organs. It can happen without warning, even in young people who appear healthy and physically fit. SCA is a medical emergency, and without immediate intervention, it can be fatal within minutes. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) states that SCA is the leading medical cause of death among young competitive athletes

SCA BY THE NUMBERS

The Numbers Tell a Bigger Story.

#1: SCA is the #1 leading cause of death on school campuses.
#1: SCA is the #1 leading cause of death in sports.
96%: The standard youth wellness checkup misses 96% of deadly heart conditions.
80%: SCA is the first symptom for 80% of those affected.
1 out of 10: 1 out of 10 SCA victims will survive.
1 in 300: 1 in 300 youth have a detectable and potentially life-threatening heart condition.
ECGs: ECGs are the most effective tool to identify youth at risk for SCA.
~95%: ECGs are ~95% effective in identifying Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).

MEDICAL RESEARCH

What the Research Says.

Explore peer-reviewed studies, clinical findings and medical guidance related to Sudden Cardiac Arrest, ECG screening and heart health in young athletes.

Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

A comprehensive review of the incidence, causes, evaluation, prevention, and management of sudden cardiac death in young athletes

Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2024

Sudden Cardiac Arrest During Sports in Children and Adolescent

Examines sports-related SCA specifically in children and adolescents, including incidence, circumstances, resuscitation and survival

Circulation, 2023

Sudden Cardiac Death in NCAA Athletes

A major study examining sudden cardiac death among collegiate athletes, including differences by sex, race and sport.

Circulation, 2024

The Effectiveness of Screening History, Physical Exam and ECG to Detect Potentially Lethal Cardiac Disorders in Athletes

A meta-analysis finding ECG substantially more sensitive than history or physical examination for detecting cardiovascular disease in athletes.

Journal of Electrocardiology, 2015

Declining Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes

Discusses changes in SCD incidence and evidence surrounding preparticipation screening, including ECG-based screening.

Circulation, 2024

Pre-Participation Screening of Young Competitive Athletes for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death

Examines cardiovascular screening as a way of identifying otherwise asymptomatic athletes with potentially life-threatening cardiac disease

Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes With Long QT Syndrome

Reviews Long QT Syndrome in young athletes and the role of different cardiac screening technologies in identifying athletes at risk.

Pubmed 2024

Sudden Cardiac Death in Football Players: Towards a New Pre-Participation Algorithm

Reviews major causes of SCD in young athletes, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital coronary anomalies and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

Pubmed 2019

AWARENESS CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME.