Family Sudden Death Risk-Assessment Unit: Experience at the Valencian Community

Abstract

The sudden death is defined as the unexpected death that occurs within an hour of the onset of symptoms. This type of death has a high social, media and economic impact. The first cause is of cardiac origin, and within this, the ischemic heart disease is the most frequent, but family heart diseases (channelopathies and cardiomyopathies) are more important in children and young people, where they represent the first cause of sudden cardiac death. These family heart diseases have a clear genetic substrate that justifies the indication of an adequate study of the relatives of the deceased. According to the data of the Spanish population of the 2013 census (46.7 million inhabitants) in the Valencian Community, which represents 10% of this population, it is estimated that there are 20.000 people with some potentially lethal heart disease. Given the importance and the social impact of sudden death of cardiac origin, and since the medical-legal autopsy has limitations to diagnose the underlying disease in these types of deaths, the most opportune strategy is the multidisciplinary approach, which is why in 2008, the Family Sudden Death and Family Heart Diseases Unit was created in this region.