Written question asked by Lord Pickles (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice is given to health professionals about signs and symptoms consistent with underlying cardiac conditions that could cause unexpected death.

Answer: Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to health professionals about signs and symptoms consistent with underlying cardiac conditions that could cause unexpected death. [143974] Miss Melanie Johnson: Relatives of people who have died of sudden cardiac death, or who are diagnosed with one of the underlying conditions, should be screened because there is a genetic component in many of these cases. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is currently reviewing guidance, issued in September 2000 to the National Health Service in England and Wales, on the use of implantable cardioverter defribrillators (ICDs). Current guidance already suggests that ICDs should be used, where clinically indicated, for patients with a familial cardiac condition with a high risk of sudden death, such as Long-QT syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 143974; 415 c881-2W;415 c882W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Diagnosis Heart diseases Hereditary diseases Medical treatments Screening Sudden adult death syndrome
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk