A GENETIC HYPOTHESIS FOR CAUSE OF DEATH DURING THE 1952 LONDON FOG

Analysis of autopsied cause of death during the London Fog of 1952 ind icates that mortality from all respiratory causes, sudden and delayed, had a consistent male fraction of 0.622. Sudden death from heart fail ure had a similar male fraction of 0.612. However, heart failures afte r the first day of illness had a male fraction of 0.48. This significa nt difference in male fraction between sudden (0.61) and delayed (0.48 ) heart failure suggests different terminal events. Coronary sudden de ath may be attributable to right-sided heart failure, and the delayed form may be attributable to left-sided failure leading to pulmonary co ngestion. The male fraction in sudden respiratory and sudden cardiac d eaths (0.612) is exactly the same as the male fraction in sudden infan t death syndrome - 0.612 - which has been posited as being X-linked. I t is hypothesized that the same X-linked gene responsible for the 0.61 2 male fraction in sudden infant death syndrome may be a factor in the respiratory and sudden cardiac mortalities during the London Fog.