Citation

Lockemann U, Puschel K, Ewerwahn J, Wischhusen F. Rom. J. Leg. Med. 1995; 3(1): 37-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Romanian Legal Medicine Society)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In a prospective study the blood alcohol concentrations of all sudden unexpected deaths and non-natural deaths that were investigated at the Institute of Chair of Legal Medicine in Hamburg from 1989 to 1993 were tested. The study includes n = 5044 fatalities (1177 females, 3867 males) with an age below 60 years. The autopsy rate was about 30%. The alcohol-analyses were performed by gas-chromatography. Measurable blood alcohol concentrations (at least > = 0.1‰) were found in 30.2% of all cases; higher blood alcohol concentrations of > 2‰ were found in 430 cases (8.5%). Alcohol prevalence and the amount of alcoholization are discussed with respect to age, sex and the manner of death (sudden/unexpected death, accident, suicide, homicide, trauma, intoxication).

CONCLUSION: Alcohol as a relevant factor in sudden/unexpected death and non-natural death seems to be underestimated. Only a small proportion of these cases are elucidated by way of routine police investigations.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; age; female; male; epidemiology; alcohol; blood alcohol concentration; sex difference; cause of death; clinical trial; article; major clinical study; sudden death; alcohol blood level; etiology