Near-Death Episode in a Young Adult

Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients Under 49 Years Including Adolescents: A single-centre study from Oman

Objectives

This study aimed to identify the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD0 in adult patients under the age of 49 years, including adolescents with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest that presented to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between January 2015 and December 2019. All patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were enrolled. The incidence of SCD was evaluated. Information about the patient's demographic data, the site of cardiac arrest, the mode of arrival, the duration of pre-arrest symptoms and if cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed was gathered. Survival data at 3-year follow-up was obtained.

Results

A total of 117 out of 769 (15%) patients met the criteria for SCD. Male gender was predominant, with a median age of 33 years. In about 79.5% of the patients, cardiac arrest was witnessed. Only 43 patients (36.8%) received cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the arrest site; 21 patients (17.9%) had a shockable rhythm and 96 patients (82.1%) had a non-shockable rhythm. Spontaneous circulation was returned in 15 patients (12.8%). Nine patients (7.7%) were discharged from the hospital and 8 (6.8%) survived at least 36 months.

Conclusion

The study findings indicate the prevalence of SCD among patients who experienced a cardiac arrest outside the hospital. Unfortunately, only a small number of patients were able to survive in the long term. By implementing preemptive screening for individuals and their families, it may be possible to prevent SCD and improve outcomes for those affected.