Sudden cardiac death among the young in Sweden from 2000 to 2010: an autopsy-based study.

Aims: To study the incidence and aetiology of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in 1- to 35-year-olds in Sweden from 2000 to 2010.

Methods and results: We used the database of the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine and the Swedish Cause of Death Registry and identified SCD cases by review of forensic files and death certificates. We identified 552 individuals with SCD in 1- to 35-year-olds; 156 (28%) were women. In 393 (71%), a forensic autopsy had been performed; in 131 (24%), a clinical autopsy had been performed; in 28 (5%) with no autopsy, a cardiac disease was diagnosed before death. The incidence of SCD per 100 000 person-years was 1.3 in 1- to 35-year-olds and 1.8 in 15- to 35-year-olds. In women, the incidence rates yearly decreased during the study period by 11% (95% confidence interval 6.6-14.2). The most common aetiology in 1- to 35-year-olds was sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (31%) and coronary artery disease (15%). In cases with forensic autopsy, death occurred during daily activity (48%), sleep (38%), and physical activity (14%); death was unwitnessed in 60%. Co-morbidity in 15- to 35-year-olds, e.g. psychiatric disorder, obesity, or diabetes, was present in 93/340 (27%) (73 men).

Conclusion: The incidence of SCD among 1- to 35-year-olds in Sweden during 2000-10 was 1.3 per 100 000 person-years (28% women); incidence was decreasing in women. Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome was the most common diagnosis. Co-morbidity such as psychiatric disorders and obesity was common among men.