A study of sudden cardiac death
I ChungAbstract
Background
Ischaemic heart disease is known to be commonest cause ventricular tachyarrhythmias, also of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in adults. This study aims to postulate possible intervention for preventing SCD.
Method
219 of cohort of 10388 patients presented to a teaching hospital with out of hospital arrest, ventricular tachyarrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation VF, n=182, ventricular tachycardia VT, n=37) between 2013 and 2024 were studied. Continuous variables were compared by Student t tests and categorical variables compared by use of the Fisher exact test. Statistical significant difference was denoted as p<0.05.
Results
Mean age 55.59 ± 11.14, male 90%. Mean age for male and female were 55.45 ± 15.50 and 56.86 ± 18.53 respectively. Hypertension 36%, diabetes mellitus 21%, previous ischaemic heart disease (IHD) 22%, smoking 22%, HbA1c 6.3 ± 1.27%, low density lipoprotein 2.72 ± 1.28 mmol/L. Death 62%. There were no statistical significant difference in diurnal variation, 39% occurred during night-time and 51% daytime. 200 were due to ischaemic etiology, 4 were diagnosed with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. 78.5% with SCD were first presentation.
Conclusions
Males have higher risk at presenting with ventricular tachyarrhythmias cardiac arrest and life threatening myocardial infarction. 78.5% were first presentation. Aggressive screening for coronary artery disease may be of value to prevent sudden cardiac death.