Incidence and causes of sudden death in a university hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia

Sudden death is non-violent, unexpected death occurring less than 24 hours from the onset of symptoms. In this retrospective descriptive study we report the frequency and main causes of sudden deaths in relation to total deaths at a large university hospital in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia over a 6-year period. The medical files of 1273 consecutive deaths were retrospectively investigated and showed 223 [17.5%] cases of sudden death. Males were 56.0% of cases. The incidence of sudden death was highest in the 2 age extremes [32.2% were infants and 31.4% were elderly]. There was a seasonal variation, with the highest incidence [29.6%] during spring followed by summer [25.1%]. The most important direct causes of sudden death were cardiovascular diseases in 59.2% of cases, respiratory disease in 24.7%, diabetes mellitus in 23.8%, liver disease in 23.3% and infectious disease in 20.2%

Sudden cardiac death : report of a WHO scientific group [meeting held in Geneva from 24 to 27 October 1984] / La mort subite d' origine cardiaque : rapport d'un Groupe scientifique de l' OMS [réuni à Genève du 24 au 27 octobre 1984] / Muerte cardiaca súbita : informe de un Grupo Científico de la OMS [se reunió en Ginebra del 24 al 27 de octubre de 1984]

Reviews accumulated data on sudden cardiac death in an effort to determine the consensus of scientific opinion on incidence, causes, predictive factors, and possibilities for prevention. Areas where future research should concentrate are also identified. The report surveys current knowledge on epidemiology, pathology, and pathogenesis, and mechanisms of the terminal event. Evidence implicating factors such as platelet-thrombus formation and sudden increases in myocardial oxygen demand is considered together with the possibility that certain types of autonomic neural activity can lead to the onset of lethal arrhythmias. Sections devoted to prediction and prevention point to the great need for more knowledge on the risk factors that are specific to sudden cardiac death, their predictive values and the possibilities of controlling them

La mort subite d' origine cardiaque : rapport d'un Groupe scientifique de l' OMS [réuni à Genève du 24 au 27 octobre 1984] / Sudden cardiac death : report of a WHO scientific group [meeting held in Geneva from 24 to 27 October 1984]

Ce rapport passe en revue les données accumulées sur la mort subite d'origine cardiaque pour faire le point des connaissances scientifiques actuelles sur l'incidence, les causes, les facteurs prédictifs et les possibilités de prévention de celle-ci. Y sont également recensés les domaines sur lesquels devrait être axée la recherche. Le rapport passe en revue les connaissances actuelles sur l'épidémiologie, la pathologie, la pathogénie et les mécanismes de l'accident terminal. Parmi les facteurs déclenchants mis en évidence figurent la formation de thrombus plaquettaires et l'augmentation brusque de la demande myocardiaque en oxygène. De même, certaines perturbations du système de contrôle nerveux autonome peuvent déclencher des arythmies fatales. Les chapitres relatifs à la prédiction et à la prévention montrent que l'on ne connaît pas encore suffisamment les facteurs de risque spécifiques à la mort subite d'origine cardiaque, leur valeur prédictive et les possibilités de contrôle