Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome

Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) is the sudden and unexpected death of adolescents and adults caused by cardiac arrest. However, the exact cause of the cardiac arrest, and thus the exact cause of death, is unknown. These deaths occur mainly during sleep or at rest. One type of conduction defect known as Brugada syndrome can be responsible.

The syndrome is rare in most areas around the world but occurs in populations that are culturally and genetically distinct. It was first noted in 1977 among southeast Asian Hmong refugees in the United States and Canada. The syndrome was again noted in Singapore when a retrospective review of records showed that 230 otherwise healthy Thaiforeign workers living in Singapore died suddenly of unexplained causes between 1982 and 1990.