Prevention of sudden cardiac death in dialysis patients: Drugs, defibrillators or what else?

Death from cardiovascular disease in general and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in particular are exponentially proportional to declining renal function and are a major cause of mortality among those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The greatest risk, however, is reserved for those patients on chronic dialysis. These individuals have an extraordinarily high rate of death, with cardiac disease accounting for 45% and SCA responsible for 25% of all-cause mortality. Once cardiac arrest occurs, survival is extremely poor. Thus, reducing mortality from cardiovascular disease and SCA in dialysis patients is a global health challenge. The main objectives of this review are to elucidate the nature of SCA in the dialysis population, describe possible mechanisms and risk factors, and discuss options for prevention.