Study of sudden deaths from natural causes

A study of sudden, unexpected natural deaths was conducted in Nagpur during 1999 to 2001. Tn a series of 4168 medicolegal autopsies during the period Jan 1999 to Dec 2001, 228 deaths fulfilled the criteria of sudden unexpected natural deaths. The cases in all age groups were included in the study. Majority of the cases (177 cases, 77.63%) were in the age group 30 – 60 years. Incidence of sudden natural death increases with increase in age. There were 208 cases (91.22%) of male sudden natural death showing predominance of males in sudden natural deaths. Cardiovascular diseases were the cavse of sudden unexpected deaths in 53.07% cases of sudden natural deaths, followed by respiratory diseases (25.43%), central nervous system diseases (13.59%), Gastrointestinal diseases (7.01%) and genitourinary diseases (00.87%). Coronary artery disease was the single largest cause of death accounting for 40.35% cases (92 cases). In maximum deaths single coronary artery (65 cases, 70%) was diseased and the left anterior descending coronary artery was involved in 73 cases (79.34%).