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Medication Use in Women and Men With Sudden Unexpected Death
Sonalie Patel1, Mitchell M Conover2, Golsa Joodi3
11 University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Sudden unexpected death is common in Wake County, NC. Evidence-based medication use was low, indicating a need for improved prescribing practices to prevent cardiovascular events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Sudden unexpected death (SUD) represents 10-15% of natural deaths in adults aged 18-64 in Wake County, NC.
- Guidelines recommend medications like aspirin, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, statins, and beta-blockers to reduce cardiovascular events and SUD.
- Underpractice of these guideline-directed therapies is noted, with disparities observed in women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between the prescription of evidence-based medications and sudden unexpected death in Wake County, NC.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 399 sudden unexpected death cases from March 1, 2013, to February 28, 2015.
- Medication assessment from medical examiner reports and records, categorized using Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes.
- Study reviewed and deemed exempt by the University of North Carolina's institutional review board.
Main Results:
- Women (126) were prescribed more medications overall than men (273) (6.5 vs. 4.3, P=0.001).
- No significant difference in guideline-directed therapy use between genders for chronic conditions linked to SUD.
- Overall utilization of evidence-based medications was notably low.
Conclusions:
- Findings underscore the critical need to enhance the prescription of evidence-based medications.
- Further research is required to explore the link between undertreatment and sudden unexpected death.
- Improving medication adherence and access may reduce cardiovascular mortality.
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