title: Epidemiology of Alcohol-related Death while Bathing in a Bathtub.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol consumption before bathing is listed as a risk factor for sudden death in a bathtub, which occurs relatively frequently in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiology of alcohol-related deaths in bathtubs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among all autopsy cases that were performed at the Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office between 2009 and 2010 (N = 5635), 357 cases of death in a bathtub were evaluated. Data regarding age, sex, blood ethanol level, manner and. cause .of death, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related gastrointestinal diseases were extracted. The cases were divided into three groups according to their blood ethanol levels (no blood ethanol, low ethanol, and high ethanol), and their data were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large majority of the cases in all groups involved persons who were 50-89 years old. The mean age of the high ethanol group (61.7 years) was significantly lower than.that of the control group (71.1 years; P < 0.01). In addition, the proportion of men was significantly higher in the low and high ethanol groups (70.1% and 75.5%, respectively), compared to that in the control group (55.9%; P < 0.05). Daily alcohol consumption was significantly more common in the low and high ethanol groups (49.5% and 87.8%, respectively), compared to that in the control group (23.2%; P < 0.01). Furthermore, alcohol-related gastrointestinal diseases were more common in the low and high ethanol groups (26.8% and 63.3%, respectively), compared to that in the control group (4.3%; P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preventive strategies for reducing alcohol-related deaths in bathtubs should target male habitual drinkers (middle-aged to seniors), especially patients who have been diagnosed with alcohol-related diseases.
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanifuji
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Mikiyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Wakako
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hikiji
authors.forename: Tatsushige
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D001494:Baths / Q000401:mortality*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014041:Tokyo / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol