Causes of Sudden Natural Death in Adults: A Retrospective Study from Malatya Province, Turkey

Fatma Senel,Bülent Mızrak

doi:10.21276/apalm.1940

Abstract

Background: This study’s goal is to determine the incidence of sudden natural death (SND) based on adult forensic autopsies performed in the Turgut Ozal Medical Center Research Hospital, its age and gender distribution, and its causes and to evaluate histopathological results from the organs.Methods: Forensic autopsies from the last 1.5 years were examined retrospectively. Cases of sudden natural death over the age of 15 years were included. The ages and genders of the cases were recorded. Hematoxylin-Eosin stained preparations of organs were examined. The histopathological findings of the heart, lung, liver, kidney, and brain were evaluated.Conclusions: Sudden natural death was more common in older males. The most common cause was ischemic heart disease. Other causes included non-ischemic heart disease, respiratory system disease, central nervous system disease, gastrointestinal system disease, and urogenital system disease.

Highlights

In cases of sudden natural death, death occurs suddenly and unexpectedly due to a natural cause [1, 2]
If there is no explanation, a postmortem examination and autopsy are required to identify the cause of death [1]
Studies have shown that ischemic heart diseases are the leading causes of sudden natural deaths

Summary

Introduction

In cases of sudden natural death, death occurs suddenly and unexpectedly due to a natural cause [1, 2]. It can be described as the rapid termination of life as a result of an illness. This type of death is considered unexpected when there is an absence of prior disease symptoms or if the symptoms are unknown to the deceased’s friends, relatives, or physician [3]. This study’s goalis todeterminethe incidence of sudden natural death (SND) based onadult forensic autopsies performed inthe TurgutÖzal Medical Center Research Hospital,its age and genderdistribution, and itscauses and to evaluatehistopathologicalresults from the organs

Methods

Results

Conclusion