ESC HF 25 - SCD-PROTECT shows high risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) during early medical therapy optimization for reduced LVEF in patients with new non-ischemic cardiomyopathy or MI/CAD.

Prof Johann Bauersachs (Hannover Medical School, Hannover, DE) discusses findings from the SCD–PROTECT study, an investigation of sudden cardiac arrest in patients with newly diagnosed non-ischemic cardiomyopathy or myocardial infarction / coronary artery disease. This nationwide analysis included over 19,500 patients with a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator, aiming to reveal the current SCA/SCD risk in the early phase after MI/CAD or newly diagnosed NICM with reduced LVEF.

Findings revealed that during early medical therapy optimization for reduced LVEF in this patient group, risk of SCA/SCD is high. Incidence of SCA/SCD was considerably higher than seen in ICD trials in chronic HFrEF patients. In most patients, LVEF improved beyond 35%, indicating that temporary protection from SCD for these patients is reasonable.

Recorded on-site at ESC HF in Belgrade, 2025.

Editors: Jonathan McKenna
Videographer: Tom Green, Mike Knight

Support: This is an independent interview produced by Radcliffe Cardiology