Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Use and accuracy of state death certificates for classification of sudden cardiac deaths in high-risk populations.

Every NR, Parsons L, Hlatky MA, McDonald KM, Thom D, Hallstrom AP, Martin JS, Weaver WD. Use and accuracy of state death certificates for classification of sudden cardiac deaths in high-risk populations. American heart journal. 1997 Dec 1; 134(6):1129-32.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

In a large cohort of patients with known or suspected coronary disease, we evaluated the characteristics of 407 patients who died after hospital discharge and tested whether the state death certificate can be used to classify deaths as sudden cardiac versus nonsudden. Compared with a paramedic classification system based on heart rhythm, the death certificate-based classification resulted in a sensitivity that ranged from 78% to 85% and a specificity that ranged from 25% to 58%. We conclude that the death certificate can be used to identify cases of sudden cardiac death in patients at high risk; however, there is a substantial rate of false-positive sudden death classification.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.