Table 1 Drugs to prevent sudden cardiac death by preventing progression of coronary artery disease or heart failure.

Drugs	Main mode of action	Mortality reduction proven for CAD/CHF	Prevention of SCD
β blockers	Modification of response to catecholaminergic stimulation in the heart	CAD/CHF	Shown2,16
Aldosterone‐antagonists (spironolactone and eplerenone)	Blockade of aldosterone in kidney and heart	CHF	Shown (secondary end point)17w22
ACE inhibitors	Inhibition of the stimulation of cardiomyocytes by angiotensin II	CHF	Shown in meta‐analysis17
Angiotensin‐receptor inhibitors	Alternative to ACE inhibitors	CHFw23	Likely18
Aspirin	Prevention of coronary thrombotic events (acute coronary ischaemia)	CAD (unstable situations)19	Not established, but likely1
HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors (“statins”)	Reduction of LDL cholesterol, possibly additional “pleiotrophic” effects	CAD	Not established, but likely1

While the main effect of these drug treatments is usually prevention of progression of known coronary heart disease or heart failure, some agents may have more direct antiarrhythmic effects.

ACE, angiotensin‐converting enzyme; CAD, coronary artery disease; CHF, chronic heart failure; HMG‐CoA, hydroxymethylglutarate CoA; LDL, low density lipoprotein; SCD, sudden cardiac death.