Introduction:

Half of the patients suffering from sudden cardiac death (SCD) have no history of known heart disease. However, most suffer from asymptomatic ischemic heart disease. The most effective approach to prevent SCD in the general population is the accurate quantification of individual risk for ischemic heart disease, followed by control of risk factors.

Objective:

To determine the association between some cardiovascular diseases and coronary risk factors with the occurrence of SCD.

Method:

An analytical, longitudinal and retrospective study was carried out with 261 patients who died from SCD at the Hospital Enrique Cabrera (Cuba), between January 2014 and March 2018. The possible association between history of cardiovascular disease and coronary risk factors with the occurrence of SCD was sought.

Results:

History of coronary artery disease (CAD) (p=0.01) was associated with the appearance of SCD. Age over 70, family history of CAD, and high blood pressure were found to be risk factors associated with the occurrence of SCD. Smoking was a risk factor in the group of patients with no known history of CAD.

Conclusions:

Coronary artery disease was the cardiovascular condition most associated with the appearance of SCD. There were both modifiable and non-modifiable coronary risk factors that were associated with the occurrence of SCD.

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