title: [Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of sudden cardiac death victims in northen Tunisia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sudden cardiac death remains a major public health problem. This dramatic event has not been well investigated in Tunisia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work is to study the epidemiological and socio demographic characteristics of Tunisian victims.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively collected clinical, socio demographic and pathology data of victims of sudden cardiac death occurring in the northern Tunisia from October 2010 to September 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population included 392 men and 108 women with a mean age of 52,2 + / - 15,8 years. Three quarters of the victims were sedentary, 57,9% were smoker and a family history of sudden death was identified in 9,8% of cases. Half of victims had a primary school education, only 8,4% has a university education, 65,6% of subjects lived in urban areas and 64% of victims were married. The vast majority of deaths had occurred either in a public place (41,4%) or at home (36,6%). The most frequent circumstance of death was at rest (67%). Only 5,1% of victims were transported by emergency medical services and 12,1% by civil protection. Ischemic heart disease was the leading cause of death with 267 cases; however a negative autopsy was denoted in 13,9% of victims.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Victims of sudden cardiac death in northern Tunisia were relatively young with a male predominance. Physical inactivity and smoking were the most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The majority of victims were married, had an urban origin and a low level of education. Ischemic heart disease was the first etiology of sudden death.
authors.forename: Allouche
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Ben Ahmed
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Shimi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maha
authors.forename: Zoghlami
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bilel
authors.forename: Razgallah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabii
authors.forename: Gloulou
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fatma
authors.forename: Baccar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hedi
authors.forename: Hamdoun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moncef
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology