TY - JOUR
T1 - Sudden cardiac death and coronary disease in the young
T2 - A nationwide cohort study in Denmark
AU - Zachariasardóttir, Sára
AU - Risgaard, Bjarke
AU - Ågesen, Frederik Nybye
AU - Jabbari, Reza
AU - Glinge, Charlotte
AU - Ingemann-Hansen, Ole
AU - Ottesen, Gyda Lolk
AU - Thomsen, Jørgen Lange
AU - Haunsø, Stig
AU - Banner, Jytte
AU - Winkel, Bo Gregers
AU - Tfelt-Hansen, Jacob
N1 - Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/6/1
Y1 - 2017/6/1
N2 - Background Sudden cardiac death caused by coronary artery disease (CAD-SCD) is the most frequent cause of SCD in persons < 50 years. The aim of this study was to examine differences in clinical characteristics and autopsy findings of the heart among 18–35 and 36–49 year old CAD-SCD cases. Methods We have previously identified all sudden cardiac deaths in Denmark through review of death certificates and autopsy reports including all deaths between 2000 and 2006 in individuals aged 18–35 years and all deaths between 2007 and 2009 in individuals aged 18–49 years. In this study we included the 197 autopsied CAD-SCD cases. Full autopsy report and medical records from general practitioners and hospitals were obtained. Results There was a male predominance (n = 151, 76%) and the median age was 42 years. In witnessed cases, 51% had a shockable rhythm and 9 cases returned to spontaneous circulation briefly, CAD-SCD victims aged 36–49 years had more severe atherosclerosis in all coronary arteries, more multi-vessel disease (29% vs. 15%, p = 0.049) and less commonly (38% vs. 54%, p = 0.039) acute coronary occlusion than victims < 36 years. Sixty-eight percent(n = 133) of CAD-SCD victims had cardiac symptoms prior to death. Conclusion This nationwide study found several differences in the pathologic lesions of the heart in victims aged 18–35 and 36–49 years, which might be associated with different disease progression leading to death in these age groups. We also report a high frequency of cardiac symptoms prior to death in young CAD-SCD cases, which may enable clinicians to prevent these tragic deaths.
AB - Background Sudden cardiac death caused by coronary artery disease (CAD-SCD) is the most frequent cause of SCD in persons < 50 years. The aim of this study was to examine differences in clinical characteristics and autopsy findings of the heart among 18–35 and 36–49 year old CAD-SCD cases. Methods We have previously identified all sudden cardiac deaths in Denmark through review of death certificates and autopsy reports including all deaths between 2000 and 2006 in individuals aged 18–35 years and all deaths between 2007 and 2009 in individuals aged 18–49 years. In this study we included the 197 autopsied CAD-SCD cases. Full autopsy report and medical records from general practitioners and hospitals were obtained. Results There was a male predominance (n = 151, 76%) and the median age was 42 years. In witnessed cases, 51% had a shockable rhythm and 9 cases returned to spontaneous circulation briefly, CAD-SCD victims aged 36–49 years had more severe atherosclerosis in all coronary arteries, more multi-vessel disease (29% vs. 15%, p = 0.049) and less commonly (38% vs. 54%, p = 0.039) acute coronary occlusion than victims < 36 years. Sixty-eight percent(n = 133) of CAD-SCD victims had cardiac symptoms prior to death. Conclusion This nationwide study found several differences in the pathologic lesions of the heart in victims aged 18–35 and 36–49 years, which might be associated with different disease progression leading to death in these age groups. We also report a high frequency of cardiac symptoms prior to death in young CAD-SCD cases, which may enable clinicians to prevent these tragic deaths.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.01.118
DO - 10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.01.118
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28202258
SN - 0167-5273
VL - 236
SP - 16
EP - 22
JO - International Journal of Cardiology
JF - International Journal of Cardiology
IS - 1
ER -