Scots cases of deadly organ defect soar to 100 a year

Apr 13 2008 By Mark Aitken Political Editor

Sunday Mail Health Special

THE number of Scots diagnosed with cardiomyopathy has soared by almost a fifth in less than a decade.

More than 1000 people each year are treated for the condition, which was linked to the sudden death of Motherwell football captain Phil O'Donnell.

Cases of the condition rose from 904 in 1999 to 1076 last year.

In Glasgow, 228 people were diagnosed with it last year, with 165 in Grampian and 164 in Lothian.

Cardiomyopathy is believed to affect up to one in 500 people and four youngsters die from it every week.

Robert Hall, chief executive of the Cardiomyopathy Association, said: "There needs to be more screening and more specialist centres treating those affected."

MSP Christine Grahame added: "I want to see a targeted screening programme of youngsters taking part in strenuous sports and families with a history of cardiomyopathy.

"Other countries, like Italy, have this."

O'Donnell collapsed and died on the pitch during a SPL match in December and cardiomyopathy was also linked to the death of Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta, 22, in August. He suffered a series of cardiac arrests during a game in Spain.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common form of the disease and happens when the heart muscle thickens for no obvious reason.

If a parent has it their children have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting it.