Sudden cardiac death rates in an Australian population: a data linkage study.

Conclusions Administrative morbidity and mortality data can be used to estimate rates of SCD and therefore provide a suitable methodology for monitoring SCD over time. The findings highlight the magnitude of SCD and its potential for public health prevention.What is known about the topic? There is considerable variability in rates of SCD worldwide. Different data sources and varied methods of case ascertainment likely contribute to this variation.What does this paper add? The rate of SCD in Australia is low compared with international estimates from USA, Ireland, Netherlands and China. Two in every three cases of SCD aged ≥35 years had a hospitalisation history of cardiovascular disease, highlighting the opportunity for prevention.What are the implications for practitioners? High-quality person-linked administrative hospital morbidity and registered mortality data can be used to estimate rates of SCD in the population. Understanding the magnitude and distribution of SCD is imperative for developing effective public health policy and prevention measures. PMID: 25981753 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Australian Health Review - Category: Hospital Management Authors: Tags: Aust Health Rev Source Type: research