In the afternoon of February 20, 2024, an international lecture on “Redefining Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD): Insights from the POST SCD Study” was held at the School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University (KUSPH). About 20 students and faculty members from KUSPH participated in this international lecture, which was held in a hybrid format, on-site and via ZOOM. Prof. Zian H. Tseng, a Professor of Medicine in Residence Murray Davis Endowed Professor Cardiac Electrophysiology Section, Cardiology Division, University of California, San Francisco was invited as a guest speaker. The purpose of this international lecture was to learn the insights from the POST SCD study in the U.S.A. and identify the causes of SCD accurately taking into considerations of the long-term perspectives.

First, Prof. Iwami introduced Prof. Tseng that they met when they discussed about the strategy of how to prevent SCD. Prof. Tseng have written number of papers on various topics including issues related to SCD.

In this lecture, Prof. Tseng introduced the recent trend of SCD in the U.S.A. He preserved more than 4,000 blood samples and compared between people who developed SCD and those who did not.

Prof. Tseng introduced some cases of sudden cardiac death by various reasons and explained epidemiological background in the U.S.A. such as Arrhythmic, Chemical overdose, and Massive Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

At the end of the lecture, Prof. Tseng stated two points. First is that obtaining accurate information by autopsy, and second is as SCD can be prevented, universal health insurance is important.

After the lecture, there are several questions, regarding how to collaborate with other researchers and the mechanisms of the results of the research introduced in the lecture.

At last, Prof. Iwami concluded the lecture with the message that it is important to keep in mind that the record of Sudden Cardiac Death is the tip of the iceberg. In order to build up evidence, collaboration is expected.