SUDDEN-DEATH IN CORK AND KERRY - RESULTS OF A ONE-YEAR SURVEY AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The aims of this survey were to determine the prevalence of premonitor y symptoms and the cardiac risk factor profile in persons dying sudden ly and also to assess the awareness of their relatives of cardiac symp toms and risk factors. Five hundred and ninety three questionnaires we re sent to relatives of persons announced as having died suddenly in t he local daily newspaper. Of 336 replies received, 319 replies were us ed for analysis. One hundred and thirty seven persons were identified who died within one hour of symptom onset or during sleep suggesting p robable sudden cardiac death. Forty three of these experienced recent onset chest pain and 18 percent onset 'indigestion', and a further riv e experienced both prodromal symptoms. Risk factor awareness of relati ves of the deceased was low. Smoking was identified by 42%, raised cho lesterol by 30% and elevated blood pressure by 13%. Symptom awareness was also low, chest and arm pain identified by 25% and breathlessness by 16%. These results indicate that further public education to increa se awareness of cardiac warning symptoms and risk factors is needed.