Patients who report blackouts or near drownings should be checked for long QT syndrome <- a genetic heart condition>, a conference has heard.
Many unexplained drownings, often involving strong swimmers, may involve victims of this condition, a conference in South Africa heard.
The issue was raised at the South African Heart Congress because the country has a high prevalence of people carrying a genetic mutation, which has been traced to Dutch immigrants in the 18th century.
A study of living patients with the mutations, the KCNQ1 A341V, has shown that blackouts are common.
Researchers found 203 people with the mutation and found that 40% had been diagnosed with epilepsy, 26% had been diagnosed with long QT syndrome and another 34% had been given other wrong diagnoses or explanations.
The study identified some 23 people who died before the age of 20 – and half of them were recorded as having drowned. One was a 13-year-old girl who died while being treated for epilepsy after collapsing on a skating rink.
Researcher Professor Paul Brink, of the University of Stellenbosch in Tygerberg, South Africa, said: “The most feared consequence of LQTS is death during a blackout.
”But a lot of patients do not see a doctor after a first fainting spell or even subsequent ones. They faint, lie on the ground for a minute or two, wake up and go on with normal life.
"They may even see alternative medicine practitioners for these seemingly innocuous events.”
He added: "Sudden deaths can be prevented if people recognise unusual fainting events and take action. Fainting at the sight of blood is harmless but a blackout during activity is cause for further investigation.
"The same goes for drownings or near drownings."
South African Heart Association president Professor Karen Sliwa said: “Long QT syndrome is a genetic, but treatable, cause of sudden death. A correct diagnosis is essential to improve treatment of this heart condition and save lives.”
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