Key result
Trauma-associated SCD occurs within the first hour in 70% of cases, driven by underlying CAD.
Why the study?
Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of sudden unexpected death in adults, and the study aimed to evaluate characteristics and contributing factors of natural-origin sudden cardiac deaths occurring after psychological and/or nonfatal physical trauma.
Cross-Sectional (n=250)
Psychological and non-fatal physical trauma can trigger sudden cardiac death, predominantly within the first hour of the event, especially in individuals with underlying coronary artery disease.
Warrants vigilance for SCD after trauma in CAD patients; hypothesis-generating pending prospective validation before practice change.
Objective: Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of sudden and unexpected death in adults, most commonly caused by coronary artery disease. This study aims to evaluate natural-origin sudden cardiac deaths that occurred following psychological and/or nonfatal physical trauma, in order to understand their characteristics and contributing factors. Material and Methods: The study analyzed 250 cases of sudden cardiac death related to psychological or non-fatal physical trauma, selected from 10,750 death cases referred to the 1st Specialization Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute under the Ministry of Justice of Türkiye. The cases span a 5-year period between 1997-2001. Data were obtained from case files, including autopsy reports, medical histories, and incident details. Results: The average age was 51.3±17.3 years, with 86% of cases being male. The highest rate of sudden cardiac death occurred in the 60-69 age group (22.8%). In 70% of the cases, death happened within the first hour after the traumatic event. Autopsies were performed in 95.2% of cases, but 20.1% were conducted by physicians who were not forensic specialists. Conclusion: To clarify the relationship between trauma and sudden cardiac death, it is crucial to determine the cause of death accurately. This requires comprehensive forensic autopsies in accordance with standard protocols, along with full contextual information including incident details, witness statements, available visuals, and medical history. Macroscopic and histopathological analyses confirm coronary artery disease as the leading cause of death, in line with the general literature.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
GÜRPINAR et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Sudden cardiac death related to psychological and/or non-fatal physical trauma (n=250). Psychological and/or non-fatal physical trauma was evaluated on Time to death following the traumatic event. In 250 cases of sudden cardiac death related to psychological or non-fatal physical trauma, 70% of deaths occurred within the first hour after the event, primarily driven by underlying coronary artery disease.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: