European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Cardiac lesions are responsible for approximately 60-70% of sudden death. Histopathological examination of  heart on autopsy plays an essential role in determining the cause of death.  Aims and Objectives : To study the frequency of  heart diseases along with histomorphological changes in heart autopsy specimens. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study of  149 heart autopsy specimens, which was carried out in the Department of  Pathology, Raichur Institute of Medical sciences, Raichur, over a period of  five years from January 2017 to December 2021.   Results: A total of 198 autopsies were analysed, irrespective of cause of death. Among them specimen of  heart was included in 149 autopsies. Males were affected more frequently in (73%) than  females in (27%). Among cardiac lesions the most common finding was atherosclerosis in (78.02%)  followed by (15.38%) of myocardial hypertrophy, (13.18%) of myocardial infarction, (7.69%) of cardiomyopathy, (4.3%) of myocarditis and (1.09%) of atrial rupture. Normal histological findings were seen in  (39%). Conclusion: Ischemic heart disease with coronary artery atherosclerosis was found to be the leading cause of death with triple vessel disease as the most common pattern of involvement. Therefore, a thorough examination of cardiovascular system is necessary in case of autopsy to reach the cause of death.