Juha Perkiömäki1, Eeva Hookana2, Kari Kaikkonen2, Juhani Junttila2, Marja-Leena Kortelainen3, Heikki Huikuri2. 1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000 (Kajaanintie 50), Oulu FIN-90014, Finland juha.perkiomaki@oulu.fi. 2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000 (Kajaanintie 50), Oulu FIN-90014, Finland. 3. Department of Forensic Medicine, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Abstract
AIMS: Momentary intake of large quantity of alcohol provokes ventricular ectopic activity increasing electrical instability. The present study was aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol intake prior to a sudden cardiac death (SCD) event. METHODS AND RESULTS: Victims of unexpected SCD [n = 2363, age 61 ± 12 years, males 1940 (82%)] included in the Finnish study of genotype and phenotype profiles of SCD (FINGESTURE) had a thorough interview of family members, medico-legal autopsy, and determination of blood alcohol concentration. Because of the Finnish law, all unexpected deaths undergo medico-legal autopsy. Patients who were admitted to a hospital due to an acute myocardial infarction [n = 128, age 63 ± 10 years, males 100 (78%)] served as controls. Based on autopsy findings, 1691 of these victims had ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and were included in the present analysis. A total of 646 (38%) SCD victims with IHD had a blood ethanol concentration above 0‰. Of these victims with blood alcohol test positive, 41% (n = 264) had blood ethanol concentration ≥1.5‰ and 56% (n = 362) ≥1‰. Male SCD victims had more frequently alcohol in blood than the females (40 vs. 27%, P < 0.001, respectively). None of the controls, who gave a consent for the blood ethanol concentration determination (n = 88), had alcohol in blood. Of the controls, 40 (31%) declined to participate in the study and give the consent for blood alcohol testing. CONCLUSION: Almost 4 of 10 of the victims of unexpected SCD have evidence of alcohol intake before the fatal event in the northern Finland autopsy population. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.
AIMS: Momentary intake of large quantity of alcohol provokes ventricular ectopic activity increasing electrical instability. The present study was aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol intake prior to a sudden cardiac death (SCD) event. METHODS AND RESULTS: Victims of unexpected SCD [n = 2363, age 61 ± 12 years, males 1940 (82%)] included in the Finnish study of genotype and phenotype profiles of SCD (FINGESTURE) had a thorough interview of family members, medico-legal autopsy, and determination of blood alcohol concentration. Because of the Finnish law, all unexpected deaths undergo medico-legal autopsy. Patients who were admitted to a hospital due to an acute myocardial infarction [n = 128, age 63 ± 10 years, males 100 (78%)] served as controls. Based on autopsy findings, 1691 of these victims had ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and were included in the present analysis. A total of 646 (38%) SCD victims with IHD had a blood ethanol concentration above 0‰. Of these victims with blood alcohol test positive, 41% (n = 264) had blood ethanol concentration ≥1.5‰ and 56% (n = 362) ≥1‰. Male SCD victims had more frequently alcohol in blood than the females (40 vs. 27%, P < 0.001, respectively). None of the controls, who gave a consent for the blood ethanol concentration determination (n = 88), had alcohol in blood. Of the controls, 40 (31%) declined to participate in the study and give the consent for blood alcohol testing. CONCLUSION: Almost 4 of 10 of the victims of unexpected SCD have evidence of alcohol intake before the fatal event in the northern Finland autopsy population. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.
Authors: Kristina Rücklová; Martin Dobiáš; Matěj Bílek; Štěpánka Pohlová Kučerová; Markéta Kulvajtová; Terézia Tavačová; Ivan Nagy; Petr Tomášek Journal: Cent Eur J Public Health Date: 2022-03 Impact factor: 1.163
Authors: Janna P Kauppila; Lasse Pakanen; Katja Porvari; Juha Vähätalo; Lauri Holmström; Juha S Perkiömäki; Heikki V Huikuri; M Juhani Junttila Journal: Ann Med Date: 2021-12 Impact factor: 4.709
Authors: Lauri Holmström; Janna Kauppila; Juha Vähätalo; Lasse Pakanen; Juha Perkiömäki; Heikki Huikuri; Juhani Junttila Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2022-10-06 Impact factor: 4.996