Authors: Bodian M, Akanni SCG, Beye SM, Mingou JS, Diouf Y, Niass AD, Aw F, Sarr SA, Diop CMBM, Ndiaye PG, Ngaïdé AA, Dioum M, Lèye M, Ralaizandry U, Ndiaye MB, Mbaye A, Kane AD, Kane A, Diao M.
Introduction: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a major public health issue. In Senegal, there is a lack of data on this phenomenon; this underlies the relevance of this study whose objective is to study the epidemiological profile of victims experiencing unrecovered sudden cardiac arrest at Aristide LE DANTEC Hospital.
Patients and Methods: This is a transverse study with retrospective data collection from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017. Included, in the study were all victims of sudden cardiac death in Dakar who had a necropsy in the morgues of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital.
Results: We recorded 69 cases of sudden death of cardiovascular origin from 169 forensic autopsy reports, or 40.8% of autopsies. The average age was 44 years with a male predominance in 76.81%. The large majority of death occurred at home (26%), without witnesses (48%) and at rest (36%). Two cases of sudden death, or 3%, occurred at exertion. These deaths were recorded in 16% of cases in the middle of the day. The highest death rate was recorded during the month of December (15.9%). Malaise was the predominant symptom (13%) followed by emotional stress (6%). The existence of a history could
only be clarified in 4% of cases. The electrocardiogram was only performed in 1 case. At necropsy, ischemic heart disease was the leading disease (46%), 26% of which was due to myocardial infarction, followed by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (16%) and mixed cardiomyopathy (13%). Tamponade, dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic dissection were found in 9%, 6% and 4% of cases, respectively.
Conclusion: Sudden cardiac death is a major public health problem. In the Senegalese population, victims of unrecovered SCD are relatively young with a predominance of men. Coronary artery disease is the most frequently implicated pathology. Faced with this observation, a national program for the integrated control of cardiovascular risk factors is necessary
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