Sudden death due to non-ischemic myocardial diseases. Genetics and electrocardiographic characteristics
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Oulu University Hospital, lecture hall 8. Remote access: https://oulu.zoom.us/j/63415040970
Topic of the dissertation
Sudden death due to non-ischemic myocardial diseases. Genetics and electrocardiographic characteristics
Doctoral candidate
Licentiate of Medicine Lauri Holmström
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Internal Medicine, MRC Oulu
Subject of study
Cardiology
Opponent
Professor Johanna Kuusisto, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital
Custos
Professor Juhani Junttila, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital
Genetic background and electrocardiographic characteristics of sudden death due to non-ischemic myocardial diseases
In this thesis dissertation, we noticed that sudden death due to non-ischemic myocardial diseases may associate with gene defects more often than previously thought, and that such myocardial diseases may express ECG abnormalities prior to sudden death.
Previous studies have focused on inherited cardiomyopathies that cause sudden deaths mainly in young, whereas genetic background and electrocardiographic characteristics of sudden death victims with unspecific or apparently acquired non-ischemic myocardial disease is less well known.
The study population was based on the Fingesture study which has gathered data from almost 6,000 sudden cardiac death victims in Northern Finland since 1998. Genetic and ECG analyses were focused on the victims with non-ischemic myocardial disease at autopsy. Classification of genetic variants was based on consensus guidelines and ECG characteristics were compared to both autopsy findings and general population.
The incidence of sudden cardiac death is approximately 0.1-0.2% annually, and about 20% are due to non-ischemic myocardial diseases. Sudden cardiac death is often the first manifestation of the underlying heart disease. Therefore, early identification of the disease is important and search for novel risk factors continues to be an important research area.
Previous studies have focused on inherited cardiomyopathies that cause sudden deaths mainly in young, whereas genetic background and electrocardiographic characteristics of sudden death victims with unspecific or apparently acquired non-ischemic myocardial disease is less well known.
The study population was based on the Fingesture study which has gathered data from almost 6,000 sudden cardiac death victims in Northern Finland since 1998. Genetic and ECG analyses were focused on the victims with non-ischemic myocardial disease at autopsy. Classification of genetic variants was based on consensus guidelines and ECG characteristics were compared to both autopsy findings and general population.
The incidence of sudden cardiac death is approximately 0.1-0.2% annually, and about 20% are due to non-ischemic myocardial diseases. Sudden cardiac death is often the first manifestation of the underlying heart disease. Therefore, early identification of the disease is important and search for novel risk factors continues to be an important research area.
Last updated: 1.3.2023