[Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of sudden cardiac death victims in northen Tunisia]

ABSTRACT

The sudden cardiac death remains a major public health problem. This dramatic event has not been well investigated in Tunisia. The aim of this work is to study the epidemiological and socio demographic characteristics of Tunisian victims. We prospectively collected clinical, socio demographic and pathology data of victims of sudden cardiac death occurring in the northern Tunisia from October 2010 to September 2012. The study population included 392 men and 108 women with a mean age of 52,2 + / - 15,8 years. Three quarters of the victims were sedentary, 57,9% were smoker and a family history of sudden death was identified in 9,8% of cases. Half of victims had a primary school education, only 8,4% has a university education, 65,6% of subjects lived in urban areas and 64% of victims were married. The vast majority of deaths had occurred either in a public place [41,4%] or at home [36,6%]. The most frequent circumstance of death was at rest [67%]. Only 5,1% of victims were transported by emergency medical services and 12,1% by civil protection. Ischemic heart disease was the leading cause of death with 267 cases; however a negative autopsy was denoted in 13,9% of victims. Victims of sudden cardiac death in northern Tunisia were relatively young with a male predominance. Physical inactivity and smoking were the most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The majority of victims were married, had an urban origin and a low level of education. Ischemic heart disease was the first etiology of sudden death