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Abstract
This study retrospectively assesses the underlying causes of sudden unexpected death
and the occurrence of prodromal symptoms in 162 subjects (aged 9 to 39 years) over
a 10-year period (1976 to 1985). Underlying cardiac diseases accounted for sudden
death in 73% and noncardiac causes in 15% of subjects. In 12% of subjects, the causes
were unidentifiable. Myocarditis (22%), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (22%) and conduction
system abnormalities (13%) were the major causes in 32 subjects aged <20 years. Major
causes of 46 deaths in subjects 20 to 29 years were atherosclerotic coronary artery
disease (24%), myocarditis (22%) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (13%). The largest
number of deaths in 84 subjects aged ≥30 years was attributed to coronary artery disease
(58%), followed by myocarditis (11%). Among noncardiac causes of sudden death, intracranial
hemorrhage was the most frequent (5%), followed by infectious disease (4%). Prodromal
symptoms were reported by 54% of subjects; most frequent were chest pain (25%) in
subjects aged ≥20 years, and dizziness (16%) in those aged <20. Sudden death, which
occurred during routine daily activity in 49% and during sleep in 23% of subjects,
was related to physical exercise in 23% and emotional upset in 6%. Sudden unexpected
death in the young is still an unresolved medical problem. The early recognition of
prodromal symptoms could be crucial in the prevention of sudden death, specifically
when exercise-related.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
July 9,
1991
Received:
February 20,
1991
Footnotes
☆This study was supported by grants from Yaacov and Celia Michunik, the Phoenix Insurance Company and the Israeli Association of Insurance Companies, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Identification
Copyright
© 1991 Published by Elsevier Inc.
