Brugada Syndrome

Fainting (syncope) and cardiac arrest are the most common symptoms of Brugada syndrome; however, some patients remain asymptomatic.

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) may show a Brugada pattern but is not always sufficient for diagnosis. Similar ECG changes can result from structural heart disease, electrolyte disturbances or certain medications.

Brugada syndrome is sometimes associated with mutations in the SCN5A gene, though many cases have no identified genetic cause. Risk factors include family history of sudden cardiac death, male gender (men are 8–10x more likely), Asian ethnicity, and age (most commonly seen in men aged 30–50).

• Family history: sudden cardiac death in relatives.
• Male gender: higher prevalence and risk.
• Ethnicity: higher prevalence in people of Asian descent.
• Age: most common between 30 and 50 years.

Brugada Syndrome Treatment at Nano Hospitals

Without treatment, Brugada syndrome can have a poor prognosis. The primary and most effective therapy is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which detects life-threatening arrhythmias and delivers an electrical shock to restore normal rhythm.

ICD implantation is similar to pacemaker placement: leads are threaded through a vein into the heart and connected to a pulse generator placed beneath the skin. Our electrophysiology and cardiology teams offer advanced diagnostics (ECG, signal-averaged ECG, electrophysiology studies) and personalized device therapy at our arrhythmia centre.