Lipid Abnormalities in Patients with Sudden Cardiac Death

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with dyslipidemia being a major modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, its primary underlying cause. A retrospective study was conducted in Community Based Medical College, Bangladesh (CBMC,B) Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, from July 2023 to June 2024, to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of lipid profile abnormalities among patients who had sudden cardiac death. A purposive sample of 125 SCD patients, confirmed via clinical and postmortem assessment were enrolled. Lipid profile was evaluated from patients’ records. The mean age was 58.4±10.2 years and 68.8% were male. 89.6% of patients exhibited dyslipidemia. Low HDL-C (80.0%) and elevated LDL-C (64.8%) were predominant. Mean lipid levels were observed as follows: total cholesterol 212.4±42.7 mg/dL, LDL-C 142.8±38.9 mg/dL, HDL-C 32.6±8.4 mg/dL, and triglycerides 185.3±72.1 mg/dL. The most frequent combination was elevated LDL-C with low HDL-C, which was present in 57.6% patients. The combination of all three abnormalities i.e., high LDL-C, along with low HDL-C and high triglycerides was observed in 38.4% patients. 17.6% patients had low HDL-C with high TG (isolated atherogenic dyslipidemia).  Isolated elevated LDL-C and Isolated low HDL-C were found in 7.2% and 22.4% patients respectively. Our study demonstrated profound association between dyslipidemia and SCD in our population, particularly with low HDL-C and high LDL-C. These findings underscore the critical need for aggressive lipid screening and management as a key preventive public health strategy. 

CBMJ 2026 July: Vol. 15 No. 02 P:92-97