The American Heart Association announced today the conclusion of a three-year national campaign focused on educating college students, particularly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Hands-Only CPR. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, according to the American Heart Association, and disproportionately affects Black athletes.
The campaign, which ended on HCM Awareness Day (the final Wednesday of February), included public service announcements in English and Spanish, on-campus CPR demonstrations, and partnerships with Black and multicultural media platforms. A national content integration with Sybil Wilkes’ “Check In & Check Up” reached over one million monthly unique visitors on the Black America Web platform. The initiative also engaged students at HBCU homecomings and rivalry games at institutions such as Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Howard University, and Xavier University of Louisiana, as well as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament.
“When students, coaches and families understand both the risks of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and how to respond immediately to sudden cardiac arrest, we create an environment where prevention and preparedness go hand in hand,” said Matthew Martinez, M.D., FAHA, FACC, an American Heart Association volunteer medical expert and co-author of the 2024 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Martinez is director of Sports Cardiology and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey.
According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac death disproportionately affects Black athletes and is more frequently linked to competitive sports involving sudden movements, like football or basketball. An estimated 1 in 500 people live with HCM, but a substantial percentage remain undiagnosed. Because HCM can trigger sudden cardiac arrest without warning during physical activity, bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates. The campaign advanced the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ movement by training hundreds of students, athletes, and community members in Hands-Only CPR.
Additional education occurred at conferences such as the United Negro College Fund Leadership Conference and the Hispanic Educational Technology Services Student Experience Summit & Showcase in Puerto Rico. The Heart Association also expanded its Heart Club, a student-led campus organization, to empower ongoing heart health ambassadors. The campaign was made possible by a financial grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.
“By pairing evidence-based HCM education with Hands-Only CPR training, this campaign transforms awareness into lifesaving action,” said Martinez. “Culturally responsive, campus-centered outreach, particularly across HBCU and HSI athletic communities, ensures that young athletes are not only informed about their heart health but also feel confident and prepared to step in and help save a life.”
