ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The sudden cardiac death remains a major public health problem. This dramatic event has not been well investigated in Tunisia. AIM: The aim of this work is to study the epidemiological and socio demographic characteristics of Tunisian victims. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
