Experts urge structured cardiac screening to prevent sudden deaths in youth

Medical experts Daniel T. Tardo and Sanjay Sharma have called for structured frameworks to screen young people for cardiovascular conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death, according to PLOS Medicine. Writing on October 22, 2026, the authors stated that sudden cardiac death in young individuals is frequently caused by silent, inherited cardiac conditions. [1]

The authors reported that evidence increasingly supports cardiac screening as an effective preventative strategy for cardiovascular disease in the young. However, screening policies and frameworks currently vary across the globe. [1]

To improve disease detection and risk prediction, the experts highlighted the potential of integrating artificial intelligence technology into screening protocols, PLOS Medicine reported. Cardiovascular disease encompasses a range of conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels, including cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, and heart failure. [1][2]

Establishing clear screening policies could offer a public health mechanism to identify asymptomatic individuals before life-threatening events occur. PLOS Medicine noted that experts recommend developing standardized framework models to optimize clinical practice and cardiovascular health outcomes. [1]