SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED DEATH IN ASIAN IMMIGRANTS - RECOGNITION OF A SYNDROME IN METROPOLITAN TORONTO

Objective: To determine the number of Southeast Asians in Ontario who died of the sudden unexplained death syndrome in Asian immigrants. Des ign: Retrospective review. Setting: Ontario. Cases: All deaths reporte d to the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario from 1992 to 1995. Ou tcome measures: Age, residence and country of origin of people who die d of sudden unexplained death syndrome in Asian immigrants, as defined by standard criteria, autopsy findings and social history of cases. R esults: Eight cases of sudden unexplained death in Asian immigrants we re reported during the study period. All involved men, and the mean ag e at death was 34 (standard error of the mean 7) years (range 23 to 44 years). All of the people were residents of metropolitan Toronto. Fou r were from Vietnam, three from China and one from the Philippines. Se ven people lived with family members; the eighth was unemployed and li ved alone. Death occurred during sleep or in the waking hours of the m orning in six cases; in two of these cases the person's spouse was awa kened by loud, laboured breathing. Two men experienced chest pain, and one of them also had sudden-onset dyspnea. There was no prodromal ill ness in any case. The only consistent autopsy finding was acute nonspe cific pulmonary edema and congestion. Analysis of heart weights failed to reveal signs of significant cardiomegaly. Conclusion: Men from Sou theast Asia aged 20 to 45 years are al risk of sudden unexplained deat h, which usually occurs during sleep. No specific Factors have been fo und that could be used to identify people at risk.