ACC: Sudden Death May Follow on Anniversary of Parent's Demise

By Todd Neale CHICAGO, March 30 -- The anniversary of the loss of parent may cause enough distress to trigger sudden death, especially in men, researchers found.
In a study of 102 sudden deaths of patients ages 37 to 79, 13 (12.7%) occurred on the date of one or both of the patient's parents' deaths, Ivan Mendoza, M.D., of Central University of Venezuela in Caracas, reported at the American College of Cardiology meeting here.
Four patients died at the same age as the deceased parent, and 10 (77%) of the sudden deaths attributed to the so-called anniversary effect occurred in males, said Dr. Mendoza.
Sudden death was not associated with the deaths of any other close family members, he added.
He said that patients and physicians need to be aware that psychological factors can trigger sudden death.
Physicians, he said, should ask patients about the deaths of close family members and should take action to prevent sudden death, including psychological therapy, stress reduction, behavior modification, management of cardiovascular risk factors, and treatment with medications like beta-blockers or aspirin.
Recently, psychological and chronobiological factors -- including the anniversary effect -- have been identified as triggers for sudden death or lethal arrhythmia, he said. So he and colleagues examined the life circumstances surrounding the 102 sudden deaths in patients ages 37 to 79.
More than two-thirds (68%) of the cases had underlying coronary artery disease.
Seven patients died on the anniversary of their father's death, five on the anniversary of their mother's death, and one on the anniversary of the deaths of both parents.
"One of the worries we have is that with death we often grieve, and in some cultures we don't grieve openly," commented Janet Wright, M.D., a vice president for science and quality at the ACC, who moderated the session at which the results were discussed. "We're stoic about it. That sublimated grief can turn into depression, depression can lead to stopping medicines, withdrawing from friends, becoming more isolated, and we know that those factors all contribute to cardiac events."
Dr. Mendoza noted that he and his colleagues have conducted another study in which anger was identified as a trigger for sudden death in about 30% of patients.
Dr. Mendoza did not make any disclosures.
Primary source: American College of CardiologySource reference:Mendoza I, et al "Sudden death: the anniversary effect" ACC Meeting 2008; Abstract 1029-100.