Thomas Hadberg Lynge1,2, Bjarke Risgaard3,2, Reza Jabbari3,2, Charlotte Glinge3,2, Henning Bundgaard3,4, Barry Maron5, Stig Haunsø3,2,4, Bo Gregers Winkel3,2, Jacob Tfelt-Hansen3,2,4. 1. Danish National Research Foundation Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmia (DARC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark thomashadberglynge@gmail.com. 2. Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. 3. Danish National Research Foundation Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmia (DARC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 4. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5. The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Abstract
AIMS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among the young (SCDY). The aim of this study was to characterize symptoms before SCDY due to HCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: Through review of all death certificates, we identified all SCDs in Danes aged 1-35 years in 2000-2009. Nationwide we included all deaths (n = 8756) and identified 431 autopsied SCDYs. All available records from hospitals and general practitioners were retrieved. To compare symptoms, we included a control groups consisting of traffic accident victims (n = 74). In the 10-year study period, 431 autopsied SCDY cases were reviewed and 38 cases (9%) were included, of which 22 (58%) had morphologic findings diagnostic of HCM and 16 (42%) had findings suggestive, but not diagnostic, of HCM ('possible HCM'). Cardiac symptoms >1 h prior to death were reported in 21 (55%) of cases, and 16 (42%) sought medical attention. One (1%) control had cardiac symptoms before death. Consequently, a significantly higher proportion of cases had cardiac symptoms before death and cases more often sought medical attention than controls (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this nationwide study demonstrates a high frequency of cardiac symptoms prior to death in SCDY cases who died of HCM, as 55% had cardiac symptoms and nearly half of the cases sought medical attention. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.
AIMS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among the young (SCDY). The aim of this study was to characterize symptoms before SCDY due to HCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: Through review of all death certificates, we identified all SCDs in Danes aged 1-35 years in 2000-2009. Nationwide we included all deaths (n = 8756) and identified 431 autopsied SCDYs. All available records from hospitals and general practitioners were retrieved. To compare symptoms, we included a control groups consisting of traffic accident victims (n = 74). In the 10-year study period, 431 autopsied SCDY cases were reviewed and 38 cases (9%) were included, of which 22 (58%) had morphologic findings diagnostic of HCM and 16 (42%) had findings suggestive, but not diagnostic, of HCM ('possible HCM'). Cardiac symptoms >1 h prior to death were reported in 21 (55%) of cases, and 16 (42%) sought medical attention. One (1%) control had cardiac symptoms before death. Consequently, a significantly higher proportion of cases had cardiac symptoms before death and cases more often sought medical attention than controls (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this nationwide study demonstrates a high frequency of cardiac symptoms prior to death in SCDY cases who died of HCM, as 55% had cardiac symptoms and nearly half of the cases sought medical attention. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.