TY - JOUR

T1 - Burden of sudden cardiac death in persons aged 1 to 49 years

T2 - nationwide study in Denmark

AU - Risgaard, Bjarke

AU - Winkel, Bo Gregers

AU - Jabbari, Reza

AU - Behr, Elijah R

AU - Ingemann-Hansen, Ole

AU - Thomsen, Jørgen Lange

AU - Ottesen, Gyda Lolk

AU - Gislason, Gunnar H

AU - Bundgaard, Henning

AU - Haunsø, Stig

AU - Holst, Anders Gaarsdal

AU - Tfelt-Hansen, Jacob

PY - 2014/4

Y1 - 2014/4

N2 - BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the burden and causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is sparse in persons aged<50 years; better understanding is needed to lower the risk of SCD. The aim of this study was to report SCD incidence rates and autopsy findings in persons aged 1 to 49 years.METHODS AND RESULTS: All deaths in persons aged 1 to 49 years were included in 2007 to 2009. Death certificates were reviewed by 2 physicians. History of previous admissions to hospital was assessed, and discharge summaries were read. Sudden unexpected death cases were identified and autopsy reports were collected. In the 3-year study period, there were 7849 deaths of which we identified 893 (11%) SCD cases. The annual incidence rate per 100 000 persons increased from 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.0-2.7) to 21.7 (95% confidence interval, 20.2-23.4) in persons aged 1 to 35 and 36 to 49 years, respectively. Coronary artery disease was the most common cause of death and was found in 158 (36%) autopsied cases, followed by 135 (31%) cases of sudden unexplained death.CONCLUSIONS: In a nationwide cohort of persons aged<50 years, the annual incidence rate of SCD was ≈10× higher in persons aged 36 to 49 years than in persons aged 1 to 35 years. Notably, coronary artery disease was the most common cause of SCD, followed by unexplained deaths. These findings may help in developing strategies to prevent SCD in the future.

AB - BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the burden and causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is sparse in persons aged<50 years; better understanding is needed to lower the risk of SCD. The aim of this study was to report SCD incidence rates and autopsy findings in persons aged 1 to 49 years.METHODS AND RESULTS: All deaths in persons aged 1 to 49 years were included in 2007 to 2009. Death certificates were reviewed by 2 physicians. History of previous admissions to hospital was assessed, and discharge summaries were read. Sudden unexpected death cases were identified and autopsy reports were collected. In the 3-year study period, there were 7849 deaths of which we identified 893 (11%) SCD cases. The annual incidence rate per 100 000 persons increased from 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.0-2.7) to 21.7 (95% confidence interval, 20.2-23.4) in persons aged 1 to 35 and 36 to 49 years, respectively. Coronary artery disease was the most common cause of death and was found in 158 (36%) autopsied cases, followed by 135 (31%) cases of sudden unexplained death.CONCLUSIONS: In a nationwide cohort of persons aged<50 years, the annual incidence rate of SCD was ≈10× higher in persons aged 36 to 49 years than in persons aged 1 to 35 years. Notably, coronary artery disease was the most common cause of SCD, followed by unexplained deaths. These findings may help in developing strategies to prevent SCD in the future.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Age Distribution

KW - Autopsy

KW - Cause of Death

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Coronary Artery Disease

KW - Death Certificates

KW - Death, Sudden, Cardiac

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Incidence

KW - Infant

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Registries

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Sex Distribution

KW - Survival Rate

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1161/CIRCEP.113.001421

DO - 10.1161/CIRCEP.113.001421

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24604905

VL - 7

SP - 205

EP - 211

JO - Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology

JF - Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology

SN - 1941-3149

IS - 2

ER -