Sudden deaths in Mthatha area of South Africa

Abstract

Background: A sudden unexpected death in South Africa is considered an unnatural death, and requires an autopsy to determine the cause of death. These deaths were classified under a vague term, collapse, by investigating officers and relatives of the deceased. Objectives: To assess the incidence of sudden deaths in Mthatha. Method: This is a record review from 1993 to 2004 of the medico legal autopsies in Umtata General Hospital (UGH). All cases of unnatural deaths are brought by police to UGH mortuary. Results: Four hundred and thirteen cases of sudden deaths were recorded over a period of 12 years (1993-2004) with an average of 11 deaths/100 000 population. The highest (22.7/100 000) was recorded in 1997, and the lowest (4.5/100 000) in 1996. Males outnumbered females 3.2:1. The commonest age group involved is between 31 and 40 years. The commonest underlying cause of death is pneumonia. Conclusion: There is an increasing trend of sudden deaths in the population in Mthatha and it is most prevalent among males between 31 and 40 years.