[Sudden death while bathing].

We describe the epidemiologic and pathophysiologic features of sudden death while bathing. The leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease (60.4%), followed by cerebrovascular disease (18.7%) and drowning (11.2%). Because hydrostatic pressure, autonomic nervous reflexes or endocrine system reflect on hemodynamic changes while bathing, the elderly persons or patients with cardiovascular disease are often suffered from fatal cardiac events. To find the detail pathophysiologic changes while bathing, exact cause of death should be examined by autopsies. Furthermore, elderly or handicapped persons should be supervised by their families for preventing drowning.