The families of young people who die suddenly of heart-related problems are at a significantly increased risk of developing heart disease, a new study suggests.

Sudden cardiac death is defined as a sudden and unexpected death due to natural unknown or cardiac causes. In young people, it is often caused by undiagnosed heart problems, which may be hereditary.

Danish scientists identified almost 500 victims of SCD. All were aged between one and 35 and had died between 2000 and 2006. Their relatives were then monitored for several years.

The study found that relatives who were under the age of 35 were three times more likely to develop heart disease. They were also 10 times more likely to to develop cardiomyopathy (weakened or damaged heart muscle) and ventricular arrhythmias (disturbances in the rhythm of the heartbeat).

The risk was even higher among young 'first degree' relatives, such as siblings. They were 20 times more likely to develop cardiomyopathy and ventricular arrhythmias.

According to the scientists, finding any risk factor associated with a four-fold or greater increase in heart disease risk 'is rare'.

They added that the findings have two important implications:
-They support the idea that autopsies should always be performed when SCD occurs in a young person.
-They suggest that the relatives of young SCD victims should be screened to check for potential heart problems.

"Our results show SCD, or the underlying heart problems, has a large hereditary component, and that relatives, particularly young, first-degree relatives, are at much greater risk of developing heart conditions compared with the general population. Family members of young SCD victims should be offered comprehensive and systematic screening, with the focus on the youngest and nearest relatives," they said.

Details of these findings are published in the European Heart Journal.

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