Task force issues proposals on sudden cardiac death

02/03/2006 - 11:20:01
A government task force has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to warrant the mass screening of young adults for heart disease.

The body was asked to examine the matter following the sudden deaths of a number of young sports stars in recent years, including Tyrone footballer Cormac McAnallen.

Around 60 people under the age of 40 die in such circumstances every year.

In a report published today, the task force makes a range of recommendations to reduce this figure, including the screening of all immediate family members of young people who suffer sudden cardiac death.

The group is also recommending the establishment of trained community groups which would be given defibrillators to help speed up the response to emergency calls.