Inherited Cardiac Disease

Many heart conditions are inherited and if not diagnosed and managed appropriately place the patient at risk of blackouts, weakening of the heart, or sudden death.While individually uncommon, inherited diseases of the cardiovascular system collectively represent a major health burden. Current recommendations suggest that individuals and families affected by inherited cardiovascular diseases should have access to specialist care in the form of multidisciplinary teams, with particular knowledge and experience in the diagnosis and management of these conditions. As a result, multidisciplinary services for inherited cardiovascular diseases, involving cardiologists, clinical geneticists, specialist nurses and genetic counsellors, are being developed throughout Europe.