RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Sudden Unexpected Death in North Carolina (SUDDEN): methodology review and screening results
JF Open Heart
JO Open Heart
FD British Cardiovascular Society
SP e000150
DO 10.1136/openhrt-2014-000150
VO 1
IS 1
A1 Parin P Nanavati
A1 John Paul Mounsey
A1 Irion W Pursell
A1 Ross J Simpson, Jr
A1 Mary Elizabeth Lewis
A1 Neil D Mehta
A1 Jefferson G Williams
A1 Michael W Bachman
A1 J Brent Myers
A1 Eugene H Chung
YR 2014
UL http://openheart.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000150.abstract
AB Objectives This paper describes the methodology for a prospective, community-based study of sudden unexpected death in Wake County, North Carolina. Methods From 1 March to 29 June 2013, data of presumed cardiac arrest cases were captured from Wake County Emergency Medical Services. Participants were screened into the presumed sudden unexpected death group based on specific and sequential screening criteria, and medical and public records were collected for each participant in this group. A committee of independent cardiologists reviewed all data to determine final inclusion/exclusion of each participant into registry. Results We received 398 presumed cardiac arrest referrals. Of these, 105 participants, age 18–65 years old, were identified as presumed sudden unexpected deaths. The primary reason for exclusion was survival to hospital (38%). Ninety-five per cent of participants in the presumed sudden unexpected death group experienced an unwitnessed death. Hypertension was present in almost 50%, while dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus were present in almost 25% of the same group. In addition, the presumed sudden unexpected death group includes 67.6% males (95% CI 58 to 76) whereas the control group only included 58.9% (95% CI 46 to 55) males. Conclusions Participant identification and data collection processes identify presumed sudden unexpected death cases and secure medical and public data for screening and final adjudication. The study infrastructure developed in Wake County will allow its expansion to other counties in North Carolina. Preliminary data indicate the study presently focuses on a population demographically representative of North Carolina.