What does the term "sudden cardiac death" refer to?

The term "sudden cardiac death" refers specifically to an unexpected death that occurs due to a loss of heart function, typically resulting from lethal arrhythmias, myocardial infarctions, or other acute cardiovascular events. This condition usually happens within minutes to hours of the onset of symptoms, making it crucial to understand the immediacy associated with this term.

In this context, it distinctly highlights the characteristic of unexpectedness and the mechanism of death directly linked to heart function. While there are other causes of death related to cardiac issues, such as gradual decline in function or complications from procedures, these do not align with the definition of "sudden" cardiac death, which emphasizes the acute nature and the rapidity of the event.