Sudden Unexpected Death in the Elderly

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Abstract
This report deals with sudden unexpected deaths among 900 geriatric patients seen in a general practice of 3,050 patients in a residential area not far from London. During the year 1972, 18 of the 41 deaths among the 900 elderly patients were sudden and unexpected. Records also were obtained from the Coroner's Office dealing with 385 sudden deaths among elderly patients in this area. Cardiovascular diseases accounted for the largest number of sudden deaths, bronchopulmonary diseases second, and cerebrovascular accidents third. Multiple injuries and suicides are serious and preventable causes of death. The clinical, social and medico‐legal aspects of sudden unexpected deaths are discussed.