Autopsy Analysis of Sudden Deaths in Adults: Causes and Demographics from a One-Year Prospective Study

Sudden death, defined as death occurring suddenly or within 24 hours of the onset of terminal symptoms without known trauma, poisoning, or violent asphyxia, remains a significant concern. This study aims to review autopsy findings in sudden death cases, identify common causes, and explore emerging trends.

This one-year cross-sectional, randomized, prospective study included cases of sudden, unexpected deaths of individuals over 18 years old who were brought for medico-legal autopsies. Exclusion criteria were cases involving trauma, intoxication, poisoning, and violent deaths.

Out of 464 autopsies performed, 146 cases (31%) were sudden death cases. The majority were older adults (46.6%), with a significant male predominance (83.6%). Cardiovascular diseases were the leading causes of death, with coronary artery disease (45.8%) and acute myocardial infarction (35.6%) being the most common. Pulmonary edema and pneumonia were significant respiratory causes of death, each accounting for 25.4% and 18.4% respectively. Obesity analysis revealed that 18.4% of the cases were obese, with ischemic heart disease being the predominant cause of death among obese individuals. Other causes included septicemia, pulmonary embolism, intracranial hemorrhage, typhoid, and malignancies.

The study provides valuable insights into the causes of sudden, unexpected deaths, highlighting the significant impact of cardiovascular diseases, demographic factors, and obesity. The findings call for targeted public health interventions, enhanced awareness, early diagnosis, and timely management of chronic conditions to reduce the incidence of sudden deaths.