REVIEW ON SUDDEN DEATHS DUE TO CARDIAC ABNORMALITIES

Sudden death is an unexpected natural death within the one-hour onset of a symptom or unwitnessed death that occurs within 24 hours. This definition is most often used to describe death caused by cardiac failure as it is one of the well-known causes of natural death. Various aetiologies are leading to sudden death, and myocardial infarction is reported to be one of the leading causes either due to coronary atherosclerosis and/ or thrombosis. An autopsy is a procedure routinely performed by the pathologist to determine the cause and manner of death which provides valuable information such as, demographic factors comprises gender, age, ethnic and lifestyle that were strongly linked to sudden deaths. This article review will discuss on autopsy in sudden death, as well as the aetiology of sudden death associated with cardiac abnormalities. Further, the contribution of demographic factors to sudden death will also be discussed and highlighted.