Sudden deaths in seemingly healthy young adults are raising alarm bells among doctors and researchers alike. A new study by AIIMS, New Delhi, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, has revealed that over half of all sudden death cases occur in people between 18 and 45 years of age, with men being most at risk. Most deaths were linked to hidden heart conditions such as cardiomyopathies and congenital defects, often undetected until it is too late.
“Sudden death,” as defined by the researchers, is a death that occurs within an hour of symptom onset or within 24 hours of the last time the person was seen alive. Though usually seen in infants and the elderly, its growing occurrence in younger adults is emerging as a major public health concern. Globally, such deaths occur in roughly 1 to 6 per 100,000 people each year, and the new Indian data points to similar worrying trends.
The AIIMS-ICMR team conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 180 sudden death cases among 2,214 autopsies conducted between May 2023 and April 2024 at the Department of Forensic Medicine, AIIMS. Researchers excluded deaths due to accidents, poisoning, or drug abuse and categorized cases into “young” (18–45 years) and “old” (46–65 years). To ensure accuracy, all autopsies took place within 48 hours, and researchers used verbal autopsies—interviews with relatives—to gather lifestyle and health histories, including COVID infection and vaccination details.
Their findings showed that 58% of sudden deaths occurred in the younger group, with an average age of 33.6 years. Men were affected four times more than women, and most cases were reported from Delhi-NCR. Strikingly, more than half of these deaths took place at home, and nearly 40% occurred at night. The most common warning signs included sudden loss of consciousness and chest pain.
Cardiac causes dominated the results—two-thirds of all deaths were due to heart-related issues, mainly undiagnosed structural problems or coronary artery disease. Experts like Dr. Naresh Trehan emphasize that early screening, even for apparently healthy individuals, can dramatically reduce risk. A simple cardiac evaluation by age 25 or 30, he says, could save countless young lives.
REFERENCE: Surabhi Jain, Sudhir Gupta, et al.; Burden of sudden death in young adults: A one-year observational study at a tertiary care centre in India; Indian Journal of Medical Research; 162 (4);453-459; doi: 10.25259/IJMR_938_2025
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