CHANGING TRENDS IN ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE RELATED SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATHS: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF RECEIVED AUTOPSIES IN ONE YEAR AT TERTIARY HEALTHCARE CENTRE

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a common presentation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Sudden cardiac deaths are on rise specially in post-covid era. To study the demographic profile and note changes i Objective: n trends in sudden cardiac deaths and to assess the different types of lesions in coronaries and study frequency of certain histological variants in such cases. Observational study was carried out on 327 autopsies categoriz Methods: ed as sudden cardiac death at New Civil Hospital, Surat , Gujarat, India between Jan 2022 and Dec 2022. The study required data retrieval from Pathology Department. The clinical data including history was retrieved from the main autopsy request form which was filled and submitted by Medical Officer / Forensic expert and was used for analysis. A Results: total of 327 deaths were categorized as sudden cardiac death out of 945 autopsies received at New Civil Hospital, Surat over 12 months time period. Overall mean age of the deceased was 37-47 years and 302 (92.4%) were males and 25 females (7.6%). 8 cases were of teenage group (14-19 years); among which 1 was 17 year old female. Of the 327 deaths, single artery disease was seen in 61 cases, double arterty disease was seen in 48 cases and triple artery involvement was seen in 82 cases. Associated pulmonary edema was seen in 89 cases and associated alveolar hemorrhage was seen in 13 cases. 4 cases had atheroma in aorta. Sudden cardiac death accounted for up to a 34.6% of the to Conclusion: tal autopsies and around 41% of the cardiac deaths at tertiary health care centre, Surat , Gujarat, India.