Multiple source surveillance incidence and aetiology of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death in a rural population in the West of Ireland.
OBJECTIVE
There is a paucity of published data on prospectively identified rates of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death (SCD). We sought to determine the incidence, survival and aetiology of out-of-hospital SCD in the West of Ireland for the year 2005.


RESULTS
Data from emergency room resuscitation records were collected throughout the year from all hospitals in the West of Ireland and recorded according to pre-specified criteria. Hospital records of survivors were analysed. Simultaneously, autopsy reports from all pathology laboratories in the region were systematically reviewed and cases of SCD identified. Cardiac arrest associated with non-cardiac pathology was excluded. The population base was 414,277. There were 212 recorded cases of out-of-hospital SCD; 160 (75.5%) were male and the mean age was 63.3 years. The incidence rate was 51.2/100,000/year. The most common aetiology was coronary artery disease (161 cases; 75.9%). The majority of cases occurred in the home (152, 71.7%). Thirteen (6.1%) patients survived to admission of whom eight (3.8%) were alive at discharge. All survivors had ventricular fibrillation as the presenting rhythm.


CONCLUSIONS
The burden of SCD in the West of Ireland is considerable. The vast majority of cases occur in the home. Survival rates in this rural population cohort remain low.
Byrne
Robert
R
Department of Cardiology, University College Hospital, Galway and National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. byrne@dhm.mhn.de
Constant
Orla
O
Smyth
Yvonne
Y
Callagy
Grace
G
Nash
Patrick
P
Daly
Kieran
K
Crowley
James
J
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors