The death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, has once again drawn global attention to cardiac arrests, one of the world’s most silent and deadly killers.

Raila, who passed away at the age of 80 while receiving treatment at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Koothattukulam, Kerala, suffered a sudden cardiac failure during his morning walk.

He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital, where doctors confirmed his death at 9:52 a.m., despite prolonged attempts to resuscitate him.

Dr Alphonse, a senior cardiologist at the hospital, told reporters that Raila had been battling several chronic illnesses, which complicated his condition.

“He was diabetic, hypertensive, and had chronic kidney disease. His condition was already severe when he was brought in, and despite continuous CPR and other emergency procedures, his body did not respond,” she said, adding that her team did everything humanly possible to stabilise him.

Medical reality

The tragic news has left a nation in mourning, but beyond the grief lies a medical reality that continues to claim millions of lives globally every year.

According to a 2023 report by The Lancet Commission on Sudden Cardiac Death, cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of mortality in the world, accounting for between four and five million deaths annually.

The commission further noted that sudden cardiac death contributes to as much as 15 to 20 per cent of all global deaths, with survival rates in most regions remaining below ten per cent.

Cardiac arrest, as defined by the World Health Organization, occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing the heart to stop beating effectively and cutting off blood supply to vital organs, particularly the brain.

Although often confused with a heart attack, the two are different; a heart attack results from a blocked artery, whereas cardiac arrest is primarily an electrical failure in the heart.

However, a severe heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest, making the two conditions closely intertwined.

A 2024 report by the American Heart Association revealed that in the United States alone, more than 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year, with survival rates remaining distressingly low.

The report further indicated that over 436,000 deaths annually are linked to sudden cardiac arrest, making it one of the country’s most pressing public health concerns.

Globally, experts warn that the situation is not much different. Research published in the European Heart Journal in 2023 indicated that approximately 10 to 15 per cent of all deaths worldwide can be attributed to sudden cardiac arrest.

The study underscored that while medical technology and emergency care have advanced, the rapid progression of cardiac arrest makes it an unforgiving condition, one that often unfolds in mere minutes.

Dr Jane Wilkinson, a cardiovascular researcher at the University of Oxford, explained that time is the most crucial factor in saving lives.

“Every second counts. Brain damage can begin within three minutes of cardiac arrest, and without immediate CPR or defibrillation, the chances of survival drop sharply,” she said in an interview published in The British Medical Journal.

The high fatality rate is also linked to delayed emergency responses and limited access to life-saving equipment.

According to the Global Resuscitation Alliance, less than 40 per cent of people who experience cardiac arrest outside hospital settings receive immediate CPR from bystanders.

This lack of timely intervention significantly reduces survival rates, especially in low and middle-income countries where emergency medical infrastructure remains underdeveloped.

Underlying chronic illnesses further compound the risk.

Experts note that conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease, all of which Raila was reported to have battled, weaken the cardiovascular system, making the heart more susceptible to sudden electrical failure.

“These conditions create a ticking time bomb within the body,” said Professor Rajesh Menon, a cardiologist and lecturer at India’s Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

“When combined with age, stress, and lifestyle factors, the likelihood of cardiac arrest increases dramatically.”

The World Heart Federation estimates that cardiovascular diseases collectively cause over 18 million deaths annually, with sudden cardiac arrest accounting for a significant portion of these.

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The federation warns that unless nations intensify efforts to promote prevention and awareness, these numbers are expected to rise due to ageing populations and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

Prevention

Prevention, experts insist, begins with managing lifestyle and medical risk factors. The World Health Organization has consistently urged people to maintain healthy diets, engage in regular physical activity, control blood pressure and cholesterol, and avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol use.

Beyond prevention, medical experts also advocate for widespread public training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and greater access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which have been proven to triple survival chances when used promptly.

The 2023 Lancet Commission urged governments to classify sudden cardiac death as a major public health priority and invest in emergency response systems. “Improving community preparedness, response times, and health infrastructure is as important as managing underlying diseases,” the report noted.