Autopsy of all young sudden death cases is important to increase survival in family members left behind

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important public health problem worldwide, accounting for an estimated 6–20% of total mortality. A significant proportion of SCD is caused by inherited heart disease, especially among the young. An autopsy is crucial to establish a diagnosis of inherited heart disease, allowing for subsequent identification of family members who require cardiac evaluation. Autopsy of cases of unexplained sudden death in the young is recommended by both the European Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Overall autopsy rates, however, have been declining in many countries across the globe, and there is a lack of skilled trained pathologists able to carry out full autopsies. Recent studies show that not all cases of sudden death in the young are autopsied, likely due to financial, administrative, and organizational limitations as well as awareness among police, legal authorities, and physicians. Consequently, diagnoses of inherited heart disease are likely missed, along with the opportunity for treatment and prevention among surviving relatives. This article reviews the evidence for the role of autopsy in sudden death, how the cardiologist should interpret the autopsy-record, and how this can be integrated and implemented in clinical practice. Finally, we identify areas for future research along with potential for healthcare reform aimed at increasing autopsy awareness and ultimately reducing mortality from SCD.

Graphical Abstract

Graphical Abstract.

Autopsy in sudden cardiac death

Introduction

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major public health problem worldwide and an important cause of both cardiovascular and total mortality.^1–11 A significant proportion of SCD occurs in people of working age, and SCD consequently constitutes a significant societal burden in addition to the immense personal consequences of these events.^7,12–18

Sudden cardiac death is inherently difficult to prevent due to the suddenness and often unexpected nature of the event. Previous studies suggest that approximately 50% of cases occur in individuals not previously diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and often as the first manifestation of disease.^1,16,19–21 Although there have been advances in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and post-resuscitation care resulting in increased survival following cardiac arrest, the survival rates remain <10% in most countries.^{4,8,16,20,22–26} It follows that primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest is essential to reduce SCD mortality.

It has previously been shown that the majority of SCD in young persons aged 1–35 years is caused by potentially inherited cardiac diseases, including inherited structural cardiac disease along with primary arrhythmogenic disorders.^{13–15,27–32} Furthermore, recent studies indicate that inherited cardiac diseases continue to underlie a significant proportion of SCD among cases aged 36–49 years, whereas the prevalence of inherited cardiac disease in SCD cases > 50 years is poorly understood.^{1,4,7,8,12,15–17,19,27,28,33–37}

Identification of inheritable causes of SCD provides a means to lower the risk of SCD in family members. Autopsy and post-mortem genetic testing of young SCD cases along with detailed cardiac and genetic investigations of first-degree relatives result in high yield of diagnoses of inherited cardiac disease in the families.^{13,17,38–50}

The aim of this review with a joint effort from experts in arrhythmias and genetic heart disease as well as cardiac pathology is to examine the evidence of the utility of autopsy in sudden death (SD) in the young. Next, we provide an expert consensus statement on how autopsy can be integrated and implemented in clinical practice. Finally, we identify areas for future research aimed at reducing the incidence of SCD in the general population.

Methods

A PubMed literature search was conducted with focus on articles published within the last 20 years, with the latest search taking place on 11 January 2023. The search was conducted using various combinations of the following terms: sudden cardiac death, sudden death, and autopsy. All papers written in English with information on autopsy in SD cases were included. The eligibility of all papers was determined by review of both abstract and full text. All papers referenced in the reviewed articles were also evaluated for relevant content. Finally, Web of Science was used to identify all articles citing the reviewed articles, and these were scrutinized for relevance.

Results and discussion

Definitions and epidemiology

The terms used in this review are defined in Table 1. Definitions of SD and SCD have varied between previous studies, and there has been disagreement between what constitutes both ‘sudden’ and ‘unexpected’. Most recent studies use a SD definition with a time constraint and distinguish between witnessed and unwitnessed cases, where witnessed cases have to occur within 1 h of change in cardiovascular status and unwitnessed cases have to be seen alive and functioning normally within 24 h of being found dead.^{7,12–15,28,51–58}

Table 1.

Definitions of common terms used in this review

Term	Definition
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)	Sudden cessation of normal cardiac activity with haemodynamic collapse
Sudden cardiac death (SCD)	Sudden natural death of presumed cardiac cause that occurs within 1 h of symptom onset in witnessed cases and within 24 h of last being seen alive in unwitnessed cases. Sudden cardiac death in autopsied cases is defined as the natural unexpected death of unknown or cardiac cause.
Sudden unexplained/unexpected death	Sudden death occurring in a person > 1 year old in which previous medical history does not give a cause
Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS)	Unexplained sudden death occurring in a person > 1 year old with negative pathological and toxicological assessment
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)	Unexplained sudden death occurring in a person < 1 year old with negative pathological and toxicological assessment and circumstantial and forensic evaluation

The authors of a recent paper by researchers from the European Sudden Cardiac Arrest network—towards Prevention, Education, and New Effective Treatments (ESCAPE-NET) consortium have suggested a practical approach to identification of SCD cases using a stratified approach dividing the SCD cases into definite, possible, and probable SCD to reflect the level of certainty of diagnosis and degree of information.⁵⁷ Many of the authors of the present review co-authored this publication, and we fully support this approach for SCD identification in a research setting.

The majority of SD has a cardiac cause, i.e. SCD, but many may also be due to non-cardiac causes such as cerebral haemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, asthma, and drug toxicity (Figure 1).^{3–5,16,59–62} Multiple studies have attempted to estimate SCD burden in the general population, and although most agree that SCD burden is significant, the reported annual SCD rates range widely from 15 to 159 per 100 000 persons, which corresponds to 6–20% of all deaths.^{1,4,7,8,12,16,19,27,28,33–36} The high degree of variability in these results are in part due to differences in definitions of SCD, case ascertainment criteria, and methods for estimation of incidence.

Figure 1.

Autopsy-defined causes of presumed SCD. Composite data from three population-based studies: cardiac deaths n = 1423 (n = 315, Tseng et al.⁵³; n = 355, Haukilahti et al.⁶³; n = 753, Risgaard et al.⁵⁹); non-cardiac deaths n = 734 (n = 210, Tseng et al.⁵³; n = 238, Haukilahti et al.⁶³; n = 286 Risgaard et al.⁵⁹). Reprinted from Marijon et al.⁹.

The incidence and causes of SCD are highly dependent on age and sex (Figure 2).^17,64,65 The lowest annual SCD incidence is reported in children, adolescents, and young adults, while infants (<1 year) have a higher SD incidence.^{9–12,23–26} From the age of 35 years, SCD incidence increases markedly up until the age of 60–80 years. The relatively high SD incidence in infants is mainly driven by deaths caused by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and congenital heart defects.^66–68 Previously, a ‘triple risk’-hypothesis has been proposed suggesting that SIDS results from a convergence of three overlapping risk factors: a vulnerable infant, a critical developmental period, and an exogenous stressor.⁶⁹ Underlying vulnerability includes both non-genetic (e.g. in utero exposure to smoking and alcohol and poor foetal growth) and genetic factors.⁷⁰ Although most SIDS cases seem to have a non-cardiac background, growing evidence point towards a subset of cases caused by infantile presentations of inherited structural heart disease and primary arrhythmia such as Long QT Syndrome.^70–77 Previous studies suggest that up to 14% of SIDS cases have an ultra-rare gene variant related to inherited cardiac conditions that might have caused an arrhythmic SD of the infant.⁷⁰

Figure 2.

Sex-stratified distribution of causes of death among autopsied cases of sudden cardiac death according to age in persons aged 16–49 years in Denmark. SADS, sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. Reprinted from Lynge et al.¹⁷.

The majority of SCD in young persons aged 1–35 years is caused by potentially inherited heart disease such as arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and dilated cardiomyopathy along with primary arrhythmogenic disorders, including Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), and congenital long QT syndrome.^{13–15,27–30,37,78–82} The steep increase in SCD incidence from the age of 35 years is largely driven by ischaemic heart disease, which is also heritable to some degree and especially in young cases can result from monogenic inherited disease such as familial hypercholesterolaemia. Potentially inherited non-coronary heart disease, however, remains a common cause of death in SCD cases up until the age of 50 years.^{1,4,7,8,12,15–17,19,27,28,33–36,83} There is limited information on causes of SCD in persons above the age of 50 years, although it is generally accepted that ischaemic heart disease is the most common cardiac pathology underlying SCD in this age group.^{4,16,19,84,85}

Across all ages, males have higher risk of SCD compared with females, even after adjustment for common risk factors of ischaemic heart disease.^16,86 Ethnic background has also been shown to influence the risk of SCD.^16,87,88 Notably, studies from the USA have shown higher rates of SCD among people with African origin, while estimates of SCD burden in Asian countries are consistently lower when compared with Western European countries and the USA.^4,16,89,90

Autopsy in sudden death

Autopsy is the gold standard for identifying cause of death, and in most cases, categorization of a definite SCD requires either an autopsy, or an observed primary ventricular arrhythmia immediately before death.^1,91 Sudden cardiac death is often the first manifestation of disease and autopsy in these cases is the only opportunity to establish and register an accurate cause of death. Previous studies show that regardless of whether death occurs inside or outside of the hospital, the cause of death as stated on the death certificate is incorrect in a significant proportion of autopsied deaths.^92,93 In a US autopsy study, the overall sensitivity of the death certificate in predicting an individual cause of death was 0.47 with even lower sensitivity (0.28) in predicting death from cardiovascular causes.⁹²

In a recent study by Tseng et al.⁵³ of 525 presumed SCD cases, 40% were shown to have either unnatural or non-cardiac causes after autopsy. Furthermore, results from a Danish study showed a non-cardiac cause of death in 28% of all autopsied SD cases among the young.⁵⁹ These results highlight the key role of the autopsy in combination with toxicology in correctly identifying SCD cases and diagnose the underlying cause. The interpretation of the autopsy findings, however, should always be carried out with great care and viewed in the context of the clinical circumstances. In the above-mentioned studies, some cases of primary electrical disorders could potentially be missed due to the risk of erroneously attributing cause of death to a non-specific structural non-cardiac finding.

Over recent decades, however, there has been a decrease in autopsy rates in many countries across the globe (Figure 3).^47,91,94 In general, increasing age and comorbidity burden are associated with lower rates of post-mortem examination, including both medicolegal external examination and autopsy.^{15,22,47,95,96} This is problematic as it is well known that several comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and epilepsy are associated with higher risk of SD.^97–99 Autopsy is not always performed in cases of SD, even in those below the age of 50 years.^1,17,47 In a recent study of autopsy practice across several European countries conducted on behalf of the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology, autopsy was not performed in up to 40% of SD cases < 50 years old.¹⁰⁰ This was primarily due to monetary reasons or lack of interest among police, legal authorities, and physicians. In addition, only 50% of pathologist followed a standard protocol for autopsy, apparently due to lack of expertise and/or training. However, in the UK, all sudden unexpected deaths without a natural explanation are mandated to have an autopsy done by a fully trained pathologist, which has maintained the autopsy rate at approximately 100 000 autopsies per annum, permitting establishment of a large UK SCD database derived from referrals of several hundred autopsied SCD cases for expert cardiac pathological examination per year.³¹

Figure 3.

Annual global autopsy rate (95% CI) of all deaths in west European countries from 1991 to 2018 according to the World Health Organization. The annual autopsy rate for all deaths in Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, and the UK from 1991 to 2018 without distinction between clinical or medicolegal autopsy. Reprinted from Marijon et al.⁹.

Autopsy in SD cases has several purposes: (i) identification of unnatural causes of death, including drug abuse and examination of potential criminal or third person involvement; (ii) identification of natural causes of death, specifically distinguishing between non-cardiac and cardiac causes; and (iii) identification of potentially inherited causes of SCD. Often coroners or medical examiners are only required to address the first purpose.

There are large variations in the conduct of autopsies between countries. These are performed as either clinical or forensic autopsies.⁴⁷ Clinical autopsies are conducted at local hospital pathology departments at the request of the deceased patient’s treating physician or general practitioner and, in some countries, next of kin. These autopsies include macroscopic and histological examination, while additional examination such as genetic evaluation, toxicology, and microbiological examination are not routinely performed.

Forensic autopsies on the other hand are performed if the cause of death has not been established with certainty, and the death is an unexpected and unexplained SD, especially among the young.^17,47 Again, there is significant variation according to national law, but these autopsies may be requested by a coroner, magistrate, public prosecutor, official death investigator, or the police to assist in determining cause and manner of death. Ideally, all autopsies follow a standardized protocol, in which all organs are examined (Figure 4).^47,86,101 The UK Royal College of Pathologists, Society of Cardiovascular Pathology, and the Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology have published recommended guidelines for autopsy investigation of SCD cases.^47,102,103 The Association for European Cardiovascular Pathology has also recently issued guidelines for diagnosis of genetic cardiomyopathies at autopsy.⁴⁸ Blood or spleen tissue should routinely be saved for potential toxicological and genetic testing if deemed necessary, and the examinations may also include biochemistry and microbiology in selected cases.⁵⁶

Figure 4.

The three pillars of post-mortem investigation.

We know from previous studies that expert cardiac pathology evaluation is essential as this significantly improves the post-mortem diagnostic accuracy.^100,104 For example, an English study from 2014 found that the initial diagnosis of cause of SCD made by the referring pathologist was altered after expert evaluation in 41% of cases.¹⁰⁴ For Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, only 2 out of 20 were confirmed by the expert cardiac pathologist highlighting the difficult task of cardiac pathology postmortem.¹⁰⁴

Yield of post-mortem investigation

In order to correctly diagnose causes of SD, autopsy together with premorbid clinical information is essential.^86,100,105 It is, therefore, pivotal in cases of SD to collect all available information on family history, prior symptoms, and diseases of the decedent, along with circumstances of death. If suspicion of an inherited cause of SCD remain after initial evaluation, including an autopsy without a non-cardiac cause or an acquired non-inherited cardiac cause, it is important to secure blood/tissue for potential genetic testing.^46,47,106 It is also vital to perform toxicological testing to exclude drug overdose as these cases do not warrant further cardiac investigation.⁵³

In young SCD cases (<50 years old), a potential genetic disease can be identified in up to 50% of cases.^17,38,86,107 Conventional autopsy will identify likely heritable disorders that can cause structural cardiac disease, such as cardiomyopathies, premature ischaemic heart disease, and aortopathies. In around 40–60% of autopsied cases of SCD in the young, the cause of death remains unexplained after autopsy and toxicological examination.^{13–15,31,37,108} These deaths are often caused by primary arrhythmogenic disorders such as long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and CPVT and have been termed sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) to highlight this potential aetiology. Recently, a novel phenomenon termed concealed cardiomyopathy has emerged as studies have shown that there is also a yield of pathogenic variants in cardiomyopathy genes in structural normal heart.³⁸ A recent study showed that the yield of cardiomyopathy genes seems to be higher in SADS cases, where the autopsy was inconclusive.¹⁰⁹ Other non-cardiac causes may underlie these deaths, such as epilepsy, although more research is still currently required to determine their significance in SADS.^98,110,111

If autopsy identifies a potentially inherited structural heart disease, targeted disease-specific genetic testing should be performed according to current guidelines, and first-degree relatives should be referred for cardiac assessment.^86,112 A case series of individuals who have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at autopsy has indicated that around one-third harbour pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in the genes responsible for these disorders.¹¹³

Post-mortem genetic testing in SADS cases, also termed the molecular autopsy, initially focused on sequencing the four main genes commonly associated with long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and CPVT (SCN5A, KCNQ1, KCNH2, and RYR2) with yields of potentially actionable genetic variants of around a quarter.¹¹⁴ Thus, consensus statements have focused on testing for primary electrical diseases if the decedent is young (<50 years) and/or the circumstances of death and/or the family history support a primary electrical disease.⁸⁶

Contemporary studies have, however, shown lower yields of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants.¹¹⁵ More recent research has employed large panels ranging from 50 to 250 genes implicated in cardiac disease.^{106,116–118} In a large prospective study of 490 SCDs in children and young adults in Australia and New Zealand, Bagnall et al.¹³ found that a potentially clinically relevant cardiac gene variant was identified in 27% of unexplained SCD cases, just over 100 of whom had DNA for which genetic testing was performed. In a later study from 2017, post-mortem genetic testing in over 300 cases of SADS resulted in a yield of 13% for pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in cardiac-related genes.³⁸ If genetic evaluation was combined with thorough cardiac evaluation of relatives, the diagnostic yield of genetic cardiac diseases was as high as 39%.³⁸ However, the additional diagnostic genetic variants found may indicate that cardiomyopathy was the likely cause of death in some cases, despite the negative autopsy, suggesting that concealed cardiomyopathy may be present in the decedent.^38,109

In recent years, there have been a promising progress in genetic discoveries, which integrated with detailed clinical data will allow for a more comprehensive genetic evaluation in SADS families.^{13,38,44,56,86,119} For example, recent research has highlighted that calmodulinopathies caused by mutations in one of three genes that encode identical calmodulin protein (CALM 1–3) can cause life-threatening arrhythmias and SCD.^120,121

We recommend the use of a broad ‘molecular autopsy’ panel of genes that have been robustly linked to primary arrhythmia syndromes and cardiomyopathies such as that recommended in the UK National Health Service and adjudicated through PanelAPP.¹¹³

How should the cardiologist read the autopsy report?

The quality and detail of the autopsy report are vital to establish a cause of SD but vary widely across pathology and forensic units, both within countries and across the world. The cardiologist leading the multidisciplinary team should read through the autopsy report in detail and be wary of subtle findings which are ‘non-specific’ and therefore not diagnostic but may be of clinical significance, such as focal myocardial fibrosis, fibro-fatty tissue replacement, and mild cardiomegaly, which may represent early cardiomyopathic changes. The corollary is also true, where abnormalities likely caused by prolonged resuscitation confound the attributed cause of death, leading to misinformation.¹²² Furthermore, some non-specific findings such as isolated fatty infiltration or minimal inflammatory infiltrates may represent bystander phenomena irrelevant to the cause of death.¹²³ In the setting of these non-specific findings, genetic testing will add to the diagnostic accuracy. Toxicology findings need to also be noted, along with the circumstances of the death. The cardiologist’s review of the autopsy, the interaction with the pathology/forensic physicians who performed the autopsy, and the request for a second opinion from an expert cardiovascular pathologist when the autopsy report is unclear may shed light on the potential cause of SD, with important implications for the family.

Follow-up and management of family members of sudden cardiac death victims

Both the clinical and genetic diagnoses and subsequent follow-up of family members of SCD cases with a suspected inherited basis are complex and require expertise in both genetic aspects of the disease as well as clinical cardiovascular investigation and management and care for the psychosocial well-being of the families.^{22,48,56,117,123,124} In line with previous consensus statements and guidelines, we recommend the use of a multidisciplinary approach by pathologists, cardiologists, genetic counsellors, geneticists, specialized nurses, clinical psychologists, and patient support groups (Figure 5).^46,47,56,117 In Denmark in 2006, specialized hospital-based units with a particular focus on inherited cardiac disease were implemented in recognition of the need for a dedicated and specialized effort with close cross-sectional collaboration. To our knowledge, there are no studies providing direct evidence of an effect of such specialized hospital units. The incidence of SCD among the young in Denmark has, however, been declining, although this is likely to be multifactorial, including improved treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.⁵⁷

Figure 5.

Overview of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of families of sudden cardiac death cases.

Follow-up is based on the thorough premorbid clinical and post-mortem examination of the decedent. In case of a non-autopsied SCD in a young person where circumstances or family history suggest an inherited cardiac disease, we recommend that first-degree relatives are referred for familial evaluation in a specialized clinic.⁸⁶ The subsequent examination and assessment, however, are complicated by the inability to exclude that the death could have been caused by a non-inherited disease, including drug overdose, non-inherited cardiac disease (e.g. myocarditis), and non-cardiac disease.^53,59 This again highlights the importance of autopsy in all cases of SD in the young, as identification of a non-inheritable cause of death prevents unnecessary and potentially harmful examinations and treatments, and spares the family the worry of increased risk of SD.¹²⁵

Ideally, the first family members to be assessed are the parents of the deceased. Overall, detailed cardiac and genetic investigations of first-degree relatives of SADS cases or SCD on the basis of potentially inherited structural heart disease result in a diagnosis of inherited cardiac disease in 20–50% of the families,^{42–44,113,123,126,127} although the yield depends on the protocol employed.

If autopsy identifies a potentially inherited structural heart disease, it is recommended to refer first-degree relatives, obligate carriers, and relatives with relevant symptoms to a specialized multidisciplinary clinic for cardiac assessment and targeted genetic testing.^86,127,128 The latter is influenced by performance and applicability of genetic testing in the decedent.

In SADS cases, the subsequent follow-up is dependent on the results of the molecular autopsy of the decedent. Genetic testing of relatives should only be performed if a pathogenic variant has been identified in the decedent.^{38,42,86,123,129,130} If genetic testing of the decedent is negative or has not been performed, it is recommended to refer all first-degree relatives, obligate carriers, and relatives with relevant symptoms for clinical evaluation.⁸⁶ For all relatives of SADS cases, the initial clinical evaluation consists of review of comorbidities, family history including a minimum of three generation pedigree, physical examination, standard and high precordial lead electrocardiogram, exercise test, and echocardiography (Class 1 recommendation in the 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on arrhythmia and SCD; Figure 6).^{42–45,86,126,129–131} In some cases, it is also relevant to perform ambulatory cardiac rhythm monitoring, signal-averaged electrocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance, and provocative testing (Class IIa and IIb recommendation in the 2022 ESC guidelines on arrhythmia and SCD).^{42,44,56,86,129,130} The context of SCD, the family history, and the results of the above-mentioned Class I recommended examinations should inform the potential merits of additional analysis and dictate in which order they are to be performed if at all.

Figure 6.

Algorithm for the evaluation of relatives of unexplained sudden death decedents. CMR, cardiac magnetic resonance; SADS, sudden arrhythmic death syndrome; SCD, sudden cardiac death. ^a>16 years old + any suspicions for Brugada syndrome on tests or decedent circumstances of death; ^bif exercise is not feasible; ^cre-evaluate if change in family history or new symptoms. Reused from Zeppenfeld et al.⁸⁶.

For example, the use of sodium channel blocker provocation testing to diagnose Brugada syndrome is recommended at the level of IIa in both the ESC guidelines and in an expert consensus statement from the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society and the Heart Rhythm Society in post-pubertal family members of SADS cases where the pro-band findings or baseline tests increase the suspicion of Brugada syndrome.^56,86 The systematic use of pharmacological testing, however, may be considered but only after exclusion of all pathological and clinical diagnoses in the decedents and their relatives due to the potential for inappropriate diagnoses of Brugada syndrome.¹³²

Cardiomyopathy may be diagnosed despite a negative autopsy, presumably due to concealed disease in the decedent, and may be confirmed by the molecular autopsy.¹⁰⁹

In SADS families where no diagnosis have been made after clinical and genetic evaluation, follow-up is not recommended in asymptomatic adults, unless they develop new symptoms or the family history changes, in which case they should be instructed to contact the healthcare system.^86,133,134 Children of the decedent are recommended to receive follow-up until they reach adulthood.

Perspectives

Autopsy of unexplained SD in the young is recommended by both the ESC and the American Heart Association. However, even in well-resourced countries, many victims of sudden and unexpected death are not autopsied, likely due to monetary and organizational limitations and lack of awareness.⁵⁰

This leaves the remaining relatives uncertain or unaware of whether other family members are at risk of SD including exclusion of an inherited disease. There are a substantial proportion of non-autopsied SDs in decedents aged 35–50 years, despite evidence of inherited heart disease in this age group.¹⁷ The authors of this review strongly recommend the use of autopsy in all SDs less than 50 years of age.

There are limited data on the incidence of SCD due to inherited causes in those >50 years, which should be the focus of future research. Dissemination of the knowledge that inherited heart disease often underlies SD all the way up to those aged 50 years is important to increase the uptake of autopsy. Equally important is to inform and influence politicians and other key policy makers in healthcare to increase funding and alter legislation to achieve the goal of autopsying all unexpected SDs in the young and ensure clinical assessment of at-risk family members. Solutions in the health system arena are inevitably local, and precedent and guidelines reinforce the merits, but advocacy including patient and family groups or organizations is often useful in generating influence. The quality of autopsy and heart examination according to standardized protocols with possible referral for second opinion to an expert cardiovascular pathology centre should also be emphasized.

New legislation has recently been implemented in Denmark to increase the autopsy rate among SD cases. Aligned with many other countries, the rate of hospital autopsies in Denmark has been steeply declining. Previously, if there was no suspicion of crime-related death, a forensic autopsy would often not be performed due to lack of capacity and monetary limitations even though the Danish Society of Cardiology recommends autopsy of all SDs < 50 years. The legislative changes now allow for forensic autopsy of SD cases irrespective of whether a crime is suspected, which will increase autopsy rates and consequently enable evaluation of family members of young SCD victims. In the UK, a National Health Service Program has been initiated aimed at systematizing access to post-mortem genetic testing and family screening in inherited Cardiac Condition Centers by creating pathways between Coroners and the health service.¹³⁵

Over the last two decades, there have been large advances in genetic sequencing technologies. This has allowed for cost-efficient tests of large gene panels and sequencing of the entire exome or genome. Recent studies suggest that next-generation sequencing in SCD victims and unexpected cardiac arrest survivors improves diagnostic yield.^{107,109,116,117,136–138} However, broader genetic testing increases the risk of identifying variants of uncertain significance, which is especially challenging to interpret in the setting of SADS, where correlation to the phenotype is impossible in the decedent.⁸¹ Over-interpretation of clinical or genetic findings of unknown significance might lead to erroneous diagnosis and cause significant harm. The utility of broad panels and whole-genome sequencing, therefore, needs to be carefully tested before full implementation in clinical practice. Further, novel approaches using RNA sequencing alongside DNA sequencing can help discriminate causative variants from variants of uncertain significance and may lead to diagnostic transcriptomic profiles.¹³⁹

Conclusion

Autopsy rates are declining worldwide, and not all cases of SD are autopsied. A large proportion of all SCD in the young are caused by inherited cardiac disease. Autopsy and post-mortem genetic testing of young SCD cases along with detailed cardiac and genetic investigations of first-degree relatives result in high yield of diagnoses of inherited cardiac disease in the families allowing for risk reduction advice and treatment. A comprehensive autopsy following a standard protocol and often including involvement of a cardiac pathologist is, therefore, essential in all cases of unexpected SD in persons below the age of 50 years. Due to high diagnostic complexity, clinical and genetic evaluation and subsequent management of the families should be carried out by specialized multidisciplinary teams.

Funding

JTH revieved funding from John and Birthe Meyer Family Foundation.

Data availability

All relevant data are within the manuscript and its supporting information files.