Introduction:

Half of all cardiovascular deaths are due to sudden cardiovascular death, one of the manifestations with the greatest impact and significance in the realm of ischemic heart disease.

Objective:

Describe the Diagnostic Algorithm and the Primary Data Collection Model used as tools to study sudden cardiovascular death in Cuba.

Methods:

A presentation is made of a Diagnostic Algorithm for the study of sudden cardiovascular death cases accompanied by the corresponding methodology, and a Primary Data Collection Model with the main sociodemographic, clinical and anatomopathological variables.

Results:

The Sudden Death Research Team has used the Diagnostic Algorithm and Primary Data Collection Model herein presented as a scientific research tool for a period of 25 years (1995-2020). Of the 33 718 deaths by natural causes studied with these tools, 2 252 have been sudden, representing 6.6% of the overall mortality recorded.

Conclusions:

Research teams should have access to tools for the conduct of population studies about sudden cardiovascular death, considering that 90% of the events recorded annually occur in this risk group.

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