title: Cardiovascular causes of death at Tshepong Hospital in 1 year, 1989-1990. A necropsy study.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease is the third most common cause of death in Tshepong Hospital in the western Transvaal, and the most common cause of death in patients older than 35 years. A prospective study was undertaken which included limited necropsies in 90 of the 167 cardiovascular disease deaths over 1 year. A reliable mortality pattern for cardiovascular deaths is described. Additionally, attention is paid to co-existing conditions. Conditions relating to cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, benign hypertensive nephrosclerosis, atherosclerosis and obesity, were also evaluated. Cerebrovascular conditions were found in 32% of cardiovascular deaths. Intracerebral haemorrhage was found in 50% and cerebral infarction in 29% of cases. Fifty-seven per cent of cardiovascular deaths were due to cardiac conditions, the most common being pulmonary hypertension (31%), dilated cardiomyopathy and chronic rheumatic valvular disease (17% each) and hypertensive heart disease (14%). Forty-nine per cent of subjects were hypertensive, while 40% exhibited benign nephrosclerosis and only 3% of the examined vessels had signs of severe atherosclerosis. Tuberculosis was present in 13% of cases. The clinical diagnosis was the same as the final necropsy diagnosis in 38% of cases. These results emphasise the importance of performing necropsies to obtain reliable mortality statistics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Klerksdorp Hospital Complex.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Steenekamp
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Simson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Theron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000401:mortality; D001344:Autopsy; D044383:Black People; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000401:mortality; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009400:Nephrosclerosis / Q000401:mortality; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology