Sudden Cardiac Death in Brazil: A Community-Based Autopsy Series (2006-2010)

Abstract

BackgroundSudden cardiac death (SCD) is a sudden unexpected event, from a cardiac cause, that occurs in less than one hour after the symptoms onset, in a person without any previous condition that would seem fatal or who was seen without any symptoms 24 hours before found dead. Although it is a relatively frequent event, there are only few reliable data in underdeveloped countries.ObjectiveWe aimed to describe the features of SCD in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil (600,000 residents) according to Coroners’ Office autopsy reports.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 4501 autopsy reports between 2006 and 2010, to identify cases of SCD. Specific cause of death as well as demographic information, date, location and time of the event, comorbidities and whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted were collected.ResultsWe identified 899 cases of SCD (20%); the rate was 30/100000 residents per year. The vast majority of cases of SCD involved a coronary artery disease (CAD) (64%) and occurred in men (67%), between the 6th and the 7th decades of life. Most events occurred during the morning in the home setting (53.3%) and CPR was attempted in almost half of victims (49.7%). The most prevalent comorbidity was systemic hypertension (57.3%). Chagas’ disease was present in 49 cases (5.5%).ConclusionThe majority of victims of SCD were men, in their sixties and seventies and the main cause of death was CAD. Chagas’ disease, an important public health problem in Latin America, was found in about 5.5% of the cases.

Arrest etiology among patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest

“…In non-survivors of OHCA, autopsy may elucidate the cause of arrest in a substantial proportion of subjects. [9] For those surviving to hospital arrival after OHCA with no obvious cause of arrest, systematic coronary angiography and CT identifies more than half of arrest etiologies. [10] These methods have limitations as well.…”

Patients with Chagas Disease and Cardiac Arrest Treated at the Emergency Department of a Reference Hospital in Brazil

“…Braggion-Santos et al (6) conducted a study that evaluated 4501 autopsies and found that 5.5% (n = 49) of patients that suffered sudden cardiac death had Chagas disease.…”

Sudden death in Brazil: epilepsy shuld be in horizon

“… 3 described the characteristics of SCD in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, according to autopsy reports 3 . Revising 4501 autopsies, they identified 899 cases of SCD (20%); the rate was 30/100000 residents/year 3 . The vast majority of SCD cases involved coronary artery disease (64%).…”

“…Although studies have shown that the increase in the number of SCD caused by a combination of factors 2 , 3 , an equally important risk factor for SCD which is not reported and not explored in cardiologic research is epilepsy. Indeed, a series of data could be put forward to explain it.…”