Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
Coronary Artery Disease and Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in a Population-Based Study of Sudden Death
Golsa Joodi1, Joan A Maradey2, Brittany Bogle3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Insights
Sudden death risk factors are prevalent even without diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD). Identifying these risk factors in individuals without CAD may help prevent sudden cardiac death.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sudden death poses a significant public health challenge, with coronary artery disease (CAD) implicated in 60-80% of cases.
- Despite declining CAD mortality, sudden death rates remain high, necessitating further investigation into underlying causes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of CAD and its associated risk factors in adults aged 18-64 experiencing sudden death.
- To compare these findings with a living population within the same geographical area to identify risk disparities.
Main Methods:
- A population-based registry identified 371 sudden death cases (18-64 years) in Wake County, NC (2013-2015).
- A control group of 4218 individuals was randomly selected from an electronic health record repository.
- Prevalence of CAD and risk factors were analyzed across age and sex groups, comparing cases to controls.
Main Results:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) was present in 14.8% of sudden death cases.
- Sudden death cases exhibited a higher prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors and comorbidities compared to the living population, irrespective of age or CAD status.
- Obesity was more common in younger sudden death cases, while diabetes prevalence was similar across age groups.
Conclusions:
- While CAD is not universally present in sudden death cases, associated risk factors and comorbidities are highly prevalent.
- Findings suggest a shift in the etiology of sudden death, emphasizing the need for risk factor management.
- Novel imaging and biomarkers may aid in identifying high-risk individuals without diagnosed CAD, potentially preventing sudden death.
Background:
Sudden death is a public health problem with major impact on society. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is believed to underlie 60-80% of these deaths. While deaths from CAD have decreased in the recent decades, sudden death rates remain unacceptably high.
Objective:
We aimed to assess the prevalence of CAD and its risk factors among 18-64-year-old adults in a population-based case registry of sudden deaths and compare them to a living population from the same geographical area.
Design:
From 2013 to 2015, all sudden deaths among 18-64-year-old adults in Wake County, NC, were identified (n = 371). A comparison group was formed by randomly selecting individuals from an electronic health record repository of a major healthcare system in the area (N = 4218).
Main Measures:
Prevalence of CAD and its risk factors among cases of sudden death and living population across sex and age groups. Odds of sudden death associated with atherosclerotic risk factors and comorbidities.
Key Results:
CAD was present in 14.8% of sudden death cases. Among sudden death victims, most risk factors and comorbidities were more common in the older age group, except for obesity which was more common in younger cases, and diabetes which was equally prevalent in younger and older cases. Compared to living population, sudden death cases had higher prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors across all gender and age groups. Sudden death cases had a numerically higher number of risk factors compared to living population, regardless of age group or presence of CAD.
Conclusions:
Coronary artery disease is not common among sudden death cases, but risk factors and comorbidities are prevalent. Our findings support the changing etiology of sudden death. In the absence of clinically diagnosed CAD, use of novel imaging modalities and biomarkers may identify high-risk individuals and lead to prevention of sudden death.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:30Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
01:30Atherosclerosis I: Introduction