title: Epidemiology of sudden cardiac death in Cameroon: rationale and design of the Douala-SUD survey.
abstract: The burden of sudden unexplained death in sub-Saharan Africa is unknown.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study is to establish the epidemiology of sudden cardiac death in Cameroon.
  
  
  
  The Douala sudden unexplained death (Douala-SUD) study is a prospective, multiple-source, community-based surveillance of all cases of unexpected death (< 24 hours from onset of symptoms) occurring in victims aged>15 years. After approval from institutional boards, all deaths occurring in residents of four areas of Douala city will be checked for circumstances of death and past medical history. Subjects who die naturally will be further investigated. Unexpected death victims will be checked for detailed demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and biological records. Autopsy background and genetic analysis (postmortem or in first relatives if the young victim is aged<40 years) will be performed as far as possible. Finally, the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts during the timeframe of sudden cardiac arrest will also be evaluated.
  
  
  
  The Douala-SUD study will provide comprehensive, contemporary data on the epidemiology of sudden unexplained and cardiac death in sub-Saharan Africa and will help in the development of strategies to prevent and manage cardiac arrest in Cameroon as well as in other sub-Saharan countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Laquintinie and Faculty of Medicine, Douala, Cameroon; Laboratoire d'explorations cardiovasculaires, service de cardiologie, hôpital Laquintinie de Douala, Douala, Cameroon. Electronic address: aimebonny@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Aimé
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonny
authors.affiliation: Service de gastroenterologie, hôpital Central, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Dominique Noah
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Noah
authors.affiliation: Biostatistic, Statprest, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ngantcha
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Laquintinie and Faculty of Medicine, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ateh
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'explorations cardiovasculaires, service de cardiologie, hôpital Laquintinie de Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saka
authors.affiliation: Service de médicine, hôpital de district de Bonassama, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wa
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Mortuary Ward, District Hospital of New-Bell, Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Réné
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fonga
authors.affiliation: Service de réanimation, centre hospitalier universitaire de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sylvie Ndongo
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Amougou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Laboratory for Molecular Cardiology, Rigs hospital, University Hospital Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bo Gregers
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Winkel
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Pier
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lambiase
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetic, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy; Molecular Medicine Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Priori
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D002423:Cause of Death; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: Afrique subsaharienne; Arrêt cardiaque; Arythmies ventriculaires; Cardiac arrest; Cardiopathie ischémique; Coronary artery disease; Mort subite inexpliquée; Sub-Saharan Africa; Sudden unexplained death; Ventricular arrhythmias