Analysis of sudden deaths in a district of Bohemia in the period 1971--1973.

A clinico-pathologico-anatomical analysis of 150 cases of sudden death in a district of Bohemia in the period 1971--1973 revealed coronary atherosclerosis as the most frequent cause of sudden death(87.3%); stenosing coronary atherosclerosis without postmortally detectable myocardial necrosis participated by 71.7% in the coronary group. Men, especially in younger age groups, were more frequent victims than women. Within one-hour duration of the terminal episode, 57.3% of the deaths occurred; 45.3% of the decreased succumbed to sudden death at their homes. With advancing age, severe findings in the coronary vascular bed and in the myocardium became more frequent. One half of the victims of sudden death in the coronary group had histories of ischaemic heart disease; 37 suddenly deceased persons (28.2%) had experienced myocardial infarction. In another 25 victims of sudden death scars after formerly asymptomatic myocardial infarcts were found.