A CORK-based consultant is calling for publically-funded heart screening in order to save lives. And a Cork mother who lost her son to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in 2013 agrees with his suggestions.
The late Colin Callanan, from Innishannon, Co. Cork.
Speaking as the Irish Heart Foundation’s annual heart month gets into full swing, Dr Heiko Kindler Consultant Cardiologist and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Bon Secours Hospital is calling for a screening programme to identify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young adults.
The condition, which affects somewhere in the region of one in 500 people has come to public attention following a number of tragic deaths on Irish sports fields.
Dr Kindler argues that Ireland should follow the Italian model where young people participating in sports are screened as common practice.
“Screening can help us identify patients with an abnormal thickening or thinning of the heart and we then simply advise them not to take part in sports.
“It’s good to be aware and for people to know if they have these conditions.
“If you look at Italy, where they have been screening anyone participating in any activity over the last 20, some publications have shown an 80 to 90% reduction in cardiac events.”
Dr Kindler said that cardiac screening should be “a routine test” and that funding it publicly “makes sense.”
“There is a cost limitation, and some say it would be a waste of resources as it is rare, but just because it is rare doesn’t mean it cannot be treated and you cannot save lives.
“People can be very fit and active and play sports without showing any symptoms and suddenly develop an abnormal rhythm.
“We don’t want to scare people but there are cases when your first symptom might be your last.”
Marie Callanan, mother of Innishannon man Colin Callanan who died of SADS in 2013 is actively involved in awareness raising on this issue and is currently lobbying for the roll out of first aid and defibrillator training in secondary schools to help save lives.
Ms Callanan agrees with Dr Kindler’s suggestions.
“Two years ago we lost our 29 year old son who was perfectly healthy.
“Colin never had any symptoms but since his death one of his sisters has also been diagnosed with a heart condition so I definitely think that screening young people is the way forward.
“I would be backing this as I am sure would other parents who have lost children to this.”