title: [Sudden cardiac death, a worldwide problem].
abstract: Sudden death is an internationally recognized problem in the industrialized world. In Maastricht, research is performed to determine the characteristics and circumstances of persons who die suddenly outside the hospital. It appeared that sudden death usually occurs at rest (in 80% of the cases), and often at home. Cardiac complaints preceded sudden death in only 60% of the cases. Patients with a cardiac history and admitted to the Cardiology department are often not recognized before discharge to be at high risk for sudden death outside the hospital. The conclusion is, if one wants to decrease the number of sudden deaths outside the hospital, more attention has to be paid to optimalization of resuscitation efforts outside the hospital. A group who needs special attention are family members of cardiac patients, because sudden death usually occurs at home.
authors.affiliation: Afdeling Cardiologie, Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wellens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000193:education
vernacular_title: Plotse hartdood, een mondiaal probleem.