Sudden cardiac death in women.

Women are at lower risk for development of sudden cardiac death (SCD) as compared with men. Women with SCD tend to have less structural heart disease and preserved left ventricular systolic function. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common predictor of SCD in women, as it is in men. However, women with SCD are less likely to have underlying CAD than men, suggesting the need to identify risk factors other than CAD or systolic dysfunction for its prediction in women. SCD risk factors in women include heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function, abnormal sympathetic uptake as assessed by meta-iodobenzylguanidine uptake, depression, and/or use of antidepressants. This article reviews SCD in women and discusses areas for future research.