Table 2 Heart pathology in the SCD-negative autopsy, SCD-positive autopsy, and control groups (CO intoxication and fatal injury)

Total cases

n = 14

n = 14

n = 18

n = 16

Heart pathology

No evident changes

No evident changes

● 38.9% (7 cases) with both interstitial edema, wavy fibers, and hypereosinophilia of cardiomyocytes;

● 33.3% (6 cases) with only interstitial edema and patchy hypereosinophilic cardiomyocytes;

● 16.7% (3 cases) with interstitial edema and some slightly wavy fibers;

● 11.1% (2 cases) without evident gross or histological changes.

● 56.2% (9 cases) with coronary stenosis (50–75% stenosis), calcification and myocardial fibrosis;

● 43.8% (7 cases) with coronary stenosis (> 75% stenosis), severe myocardial fibrosis and disorder.