Sudden Cardiovascular Arrest During Sexual Intercourse

Considerable apprehension often surrounds the issue of sudden cardiovascular arrest (SCA) during physical activity, especially that related to sexual intercourse. Sex-related SCA (SxSCA) has been mainly investigated through forensic studies, and epidemiological data are scarce.1 A comparison of the characteristics and outcomes of SxSCA with other SCAs may allow a better understanding of this dramatic condition. The Paris-SDEC registry (Paris-Sudden Death Expertise Center) has been described previously.2 In brief, it is an ongoing, prospective, population-based study in Paris and its suburbs (population 6.7 million). Since May 2011, every case of out-of-hospital SCA aged ≥18 years has been captured, and systematic information has been gathered. Appropriate institutional review boards approved the investigation with waiver of informed consent. Utstein templates and medical records were reviewed by 2 cardiologists. Data from all patients with SCA alive at hospital admission were analyzed. SxSCA was defined as any SCA occurring during coitus or within the following hour, and its characteristics were compared with SCA occurring during other physical activities (exercise-non SxSCA), and at rest (sedentary), as well. All patients admitted alive with a normal coronary angiogram and clinical evidence for a neurological issue systematically underwent a computed …