New evidence and new screenings @CRY_UK

You may have already read about CRY’s latest research analysing what happened to more than 100,000 young people screened between 2008 and 2018.

As summed up by CRY: “One in 300 young people screened and evaluated by CRY’s cardiac experts were identified with heart conditions that could have fatal consequences, if left unmonitored and untreated.

“More than 40% (41%) of those diagnosed went on to receive significant ‘risk-reducing’ interventions including implantable defibrillators, pacemakers, cardiac ablation surgery, and, in 2 cases, heart transplantation.”

This ‘major research paper” has been welcomed in an Early Day Motion tabled in Parliament, which is great news. Paul’s MP, Jess Brown-Fuller, is one of the sponsors. Among other points, the motion  “raises the importance of this report given the statistics that 12 young people die each week due to an undiagnosed heart condition.”

Hopefully, it will raise awareness among other MPs.

Meanwhile, the UK’s National Screening Committee (NSC) is reviewing the evidence for heart screening for young people and is due to open a public consultation in the Spring.

It seems about time, given you can read the following on the Sudden Cardiac Death page of the NSC website: “Next review estimated to be completed: 2023 to 2024.” Since 2023, 1,800 more young people will have died of undiagnosed heart conditions.

The NSC now has the new report to consider, although it’s striking that CRY’s figure of one in 300 young people screened being found to have a significant heart condition has been known since at least 2012. The NSC chose to ignore this in its reviews of 2015 and 2019.  

But to end on a positive note. Our next free heart screenings for young people aged between 14-35 will be held in Ealing in July. Keep an eye out for details nearer the time.

As ever, we are grateful to all of you who have supported us with donations. It’s your money that keeps the screenings going. We know from experience that screening saves lives.  

Meanwhile, if you haven’t signed the Ayling family petition yet, calling for a national screening programme, you can do so here.

Paul and Ellen

#cardiacriskintheyoung #12aweek