Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said it enrolled the 1st patients in a clinical trial that aims to identify patients in developing nations who are at risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

The Improve SCA study is designed to help detect patients who are at risk for SCA who haven’t exhibited any prior heart trouble, according to a press release. The 1st patients were enrolled at West China Hospital and Fuwai Hospital in China, Medtronic said.

Patients in the study who are deemed to be at risk may be indicated for either an implantable cardiac defibrillator or a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, according to the release.

"Defibrillation is the only definitive treatment for SCA, and while recent studies have proven ICDs are effective in reducing mortality for primary prevention patients in North America and Europe, our challenge has always been identifying those patients most at risk for SCA around the world," Dr. Shu Zhang, of Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, said in prepared remarks. "Improve SCA is the first study to evaluate the benefits of the therapy for high-risk patients in countries where defibrillation therapy for primary prevention of SCA is vastly underutilized."

"The study will provide the clinical evidence needed to help primary prevention patients at the highest risk of SCA access the therapy they need, and has the potential to eventually influence local guidelines," added Dr. Dejia Huang of West China Hospital in Chengdu City.

"We are dedicated to improving the lives of patients most at risk for SCA and ensuring this patient population – which may benefit the most from defibrillation therapy – can get it," Dr. Marshall Stanton, general manager of tachycardia at Medtronic, said in a statement. "While leveraging our global expertise, we work to identify challenges at the local level and become part of a long-term solution. Improve SCA is our latest study that aims to help even more patients access the most innovative, life-saving therapies available today."