Risk determination for a near fatal ventricular arrhythmia of a patient. An electrocardiogram of a heart of the patient is obtained. A parameter is measured, using an electrocardiogram of a heart of the patient, indicative of an autonomic nervous system of the patient. A numeric score is assigned for the parameter indicative of the conduction system of the heart. A numeric score is assigned for the parameter indicative of the autonomic nervous system. A ratio of the numeric score of the parameter indicative of the conduction system of the heart of the patient and the numeric score of the parameter indicative of the autonomic nervous system of the patient is calculated. The risk of the potentially near fatal ventricular arrhythmia of the patient is determined to be significant if the ratio is greater than a predetermined threshold. An action responsive to the determining step is taken.
