Recent Trends in Sudden Deaths with Special Reference to Cardiac Causes: Autopsy based Study from Western Maharashtra

WHO defines sudden death as, “Death is said to be sudden or unexpected when a person not known to have been suffering from any dangerous disease, injury or poisoning is found dead or dies within 24 hours after the onset of signs and symptoms.” In sudden death, the immediate cause is almost always to be found in the cardiovascular system, even though topographically the lesion is not in the heart or great vessels. The present autopsy based study was conducted at mortuary of department of forensic medicine of B.J. Medical College and Sassoon General hospital, Pune region, western part of Maharashtra state, India, from October 2013 to May 2015. During the study period total 9497 cases were brought for medico-legal autopsies out of that 807 cases of sudden deaths constituted the study population. Further out of those 807 cases of sudden deaths, 354 cases had cardiovascular system involment which were further analyzed in detail. In the present study, sudden deaths most common in age group of 31 to 60 years with male population being more affected. Cardiovascular diseases constitutes the most common causes of sudden deaths. This analysis will provide a better understanding of epidemiology and burden of sudden natural deaths in society and will help to formulate comprehensive programmes and strategies to prevent same.