1. SUDDEN DEATH, THE ANNIVERSARY EFFECT Ivan Mendoza, Juan Marques, Federico Moleiro, Ivan Mendoza-B., Francesca Misticchio Experimental Cardiology, Central University of Venezuela, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA Background: Sudden death (SD) is one of the major problems of public health and responsible for nearly half of all cardiac deaths. A better understanding of the trigger mechanism will have an important preventive impact. Recently psychologic and chrono-biologic factors have been described as potential triggers of lethal arrhythmias. Anniversary of death has been mentioned as sudden death triggers, but has been poorly evaluated.

2. Objective: To evaluate the impact of some family member death anniversary as a trigger of SD in an adult population. Methods and Results: A consecutive series of 102 documented sudden death cases with ages between 37 and 79 were evaluated. Life circumstances that preceded the final event were investigated. In 69 (68%) the underlying disease was coronary artery disease. SUDDEN DEATH, THE ANNIVERSARY EFFECT

3. Methods and Results: In 13 cases (12,7%) SD occurs on the anniversary date of the traumatic event of death of their parents, 7 (53,8%) the anniversary of father´s death, 5 (38.5%) the anniversary of mother´s death and 1 (7,7%) the anniversary of death of mother and father who died on the same date. In our series no death is related with any other close family member. 10 of 13 (77 %) were male. 4 of 13 (30,8%) had a similar age of the family member who died previously. SUDDEN DEATH, THE ANNIVERSARY EFFECT

7. Discussion:. Discussion:. Sudden death (SD) is one of the major problems of public health and responsible for nearly half of all cardiac deaths. A better understanding of the trigger mechanism will have an important preventive impact. Sweeney et al report in July 2007 one case of Ventricular tachycardia treated with ICD with anniversary effect. SUDDEN DEATH, THE ANNIVERSARY EFFECT

8. Discussion: Discussion: We emphasized the importance of the devastating psychological effect as a trigger of lethal arrhythmias and SD. The anniversary of death of a close family member, especially mother and/or father is an important trigger of SD, predominantly in males. Age of SD cases is similar to the family member who died previously in one third of the cases SUDDEN DEATH, THE ANNIVERSARY EFFECT