Alcohol in a series of medico-legally autopsied deaths in northern Norway 1973-1992.
It is well established that use of alcohol increases the risk of fatal injuries. The presence of blood alcohol in autopsied deaths is regularly encountered in medico-legal practices. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and concentration of alcohol in 1539 medico-legal autopsies in two counties in northern Norway in the period 1973-1992, and the reporting of acute alcohol influence among these deaths to the official cause-of-death statistics. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >/=0.5 per thousand (50 mg/100 ml) was found in 47.6% (n=456) of violent deaths tested, and in 93% (n=426) of these the BAC was >/=1.0 per thousand. In 17.4% (n=55) of tested natural deaths the BAC was >/=0.5 per thousand. Acute alcohol-influenced violent deaths were under-reported to the cause-of-death statistics. Deaths by motor vehicle traffic accidents did not differ from other violent deaths in this respect. The under-reporting among violent deaths was 41% in cases with BAC >/=0. 5 per thousand and 37% where the BAC was >/=1.0 per thousand during the whole period. It is concluded that post-mortem BAC >/=0.5 per thousand, should be regarded as a possible contributory cause in all violent deaths, and reported accordingly.
Nordrum
I
I
Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Tromso, 9038, Tromso, Norway. ivar.nordrum@medisin.ntnu.no
Eide
T J
TJ
JŁrgensen
L
L
D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D004194:Disease; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000401:mortality
D000431:Ethanol