Causes of Sudden Death in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• NCJ Number: 246182
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 58 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2013 Pages: 1171-1174
• Author(s): MingChang Zhang M.D.; Ling Li M.D.; David Fowler M.D.; Ziqin Zhao M.D.; Dengming Wei M.D.; Yang Zhang B.S.; Allen Burke M.D.
• Date Published: September 2013
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

There are few autopsy studies of patients dying suddenly with obstructive sleep apnea OSA.

Abstract

There are few autopsy studies of patients dying suddenly with obstructive sleep apnea OSA. Twenty-five forensic autopsies of unexpected sudden death in individuals with OSA were reviewed. The causes of death were as follows: cardiomyopathy n = 11; sudden unexpected death without morphologic findings SUDNA, n = 6; and other cardiovascular diseases not related to OSA n = 8. The cardiomyopathy group comprised five hearts with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy without dilatation and six with left ventricular diameter >4 cm dilated cardiomyopathy. Four of six hearts in the SUDNA group showed right ventricular dilatation compared with seven of 11 showed cardiomyopathy and one of eight miscellaneous. The degree of obesity was greatest in the dilated cardiomyopathy group 10 of 11 obese followed by the SUDNA group four of six obese. The cardiac findings in patients dying suddenly and unexpectedly with OSA include nonspecific cardiomyopathy, other cardiac conditions, and hearts without a morphologic cause of death, which show frequent right ventricular dilatation as the only finding. Abstract published by arrangement with Wiley.