The case history (medical history) represents an important component in the diagnosis of cardiac arrest/sudden cardiac death. Follow-up history based on interview with a family member (extraneous history).
Family history
- Is there a family history of hereditary diseases associated with sudden cardiac death (eg, prolonged QT syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)?
Social history
- What was the patient’s occupation?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- What symptoms has the patient noticed before?
- Did a sudden loss of consciousness occur?
- Did cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have to be performed?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Has the patient used drugs? If yes, which drugs (cocaine) and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. drug history.
- Pre-existing conditions (respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, injuries).
- Operations
- Radiotherapy
- Vaccination status
- Allergies
- Pregnancies
- Environmental history
- Medication history
Medication history
- Drug intoxication, unspecified; e.g., digitalis – drug used in heart failure.
- Cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim plus sulfmethoxazole) + RASB (renin-angiotensin system blockers; inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system) – associated with sudden cardiac death in elderly patients (in the 14-day period after antibiotic treatment)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – also nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAPs) or NSAIDs) increase the risk of sudden cardiac death:
- COX-2 inhibitors (COX-2 inhibitors).
- NSAID: diclofenac (+50% increased risk), ibuprofen (+31%).
- X-ray contrast media (as an immediate reaction).
- See also under: “Cardiac arrhythmias caused by drugs”
