Sudden Deaths Among Young Indians Linked to Undiagnosed Heart Disease: AIIMS-ICMR Study

The sudden deaths of young, seemingly healthy Indians — often collapsing at home, during travel, or even in sleep — have sparked widespread concern and speculation in recent years. A new AIIMS-ICMR study, published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, now provides the most detailed medical explanation yet for this disturbing trend.

In medical terms, “sudden death” is not a vague or emotional label. It is precisely defined as a death occurring within one hour of symptom onset in witnessed cases, or within 24 hours of last being seen alive in unwitnessed cases. It is this category of abrupt and unexpected deaths that doctors are increasingly seeing among adults in their 20s, 30s and early 40s.

What the AIIMS-ICMR Study Found

The study analysed 2,214 consecutive medicolegal autopsies conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi, between May 2023 and April 2024, as part of an ongoing Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) project. Importantly, these were not selected cases but all autopsies during the period, ensuring unbiased results.

Out of these, 180 deaths (8.1%) met the strict criteria for sudden death. What stood out was the age profile:

103 deaths (57.2%) occurred in people aged 18–45 years

The majority were described by families as “apparently healthy”

Men far outnumbered women across all age groups

Heart Disease: The Leading Cause

The most striking finding was that cardiovascular disease accounted for 42.6% of sudden deaths among young adults. Autopsies revealed advanced coronary artery disease, with critical blockages — often exceeding 70% narrowing — in arteries supplying blood to the heart.

The left anterior descending (LAD) artery, commonly associated with fatal heart attacks, was most frequently involved, followed by the right coronary artery. These findings indicate that serious heart disease can exist silently for years, even in people without known symptoms.

When Autopsy Finds No Answer

Equally concerning was that 21.3% of sudden deaths remained unexplained, despite exhaustive investigation. These cases underwent:

Full internal autopsy

Histopathological examination

Radiological imaging

Detailed verbal autopsies with family members

Yet no structural cause of death was found. Doctors believe many of these deaths may be due to inherited electrical disorders of the heart, which disrupt heart rhythm but leave no visible anatomical damage. Such conditions can only be identified through genetic testing and family screening, not routine autopsy.

Sudden Death Is Not Only About the Heart

While heart disease dominated, the study highlighted other significant causes:

Respiratory diseases (21.3%), including pneumonia and tuberculosis

Aspiration-related asphyxia, often seen in chronic alcohol users, where suppressed airway reflexes during sleep lead to choking

No Link to Covid or Vaccination

Crucially, the study found no evidence linking sudden deaths to Covid infection or Covid vaccination. Researchers specifically examined vaccination history and prior infection and found no correlation.

What This Means for Young Adults

Experts stress the need for:

Early heart health screening, even in younger age groups

Strict avoidance of tobacco and excessive alcohol

Awareness that fitness appearance does not guarantee cardiac health

The study shifts the conversation from fear and speculation to evidence-based prevention, underlining that sudden deaths are rarely “mysterious” — they are often undiagnosed medical conditions waiting to be detected.