An Autopsy-Based Retrospective Analysis of Asphyxia-Related Deaths

Abstract

Background: In forensic medicine, autopsy is done to find out the cause of death. Among them one of the most important cause of death is asphyxia. Asphyxia is a condition in which the level of oxygen is decreased and ultimately carbon dioxide increased in the body. Prevalence of asphyxia related deaths were studied in relation to different variables like age, gender, region (urban and rural) along with different types of asphyxia. Objective: To find the frequency of asphyxial deaths in relation to age and gender as well as to investigate the cause and manner of such deaths. Material and Methods: Retrospective Cross-sectional study carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine Mekran Medical College Turbat, from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023. All the subjects who died due to asphyxia presented for autopsy at the mortuary were included in the study. There were no age or gender restrictions, but participants whose deaths were caused by other causes were not included in the study. Incomplete cases and referrals from other districts were excluded. The pre-designed Performa had a demographic component and closed-ended questions regarding autopsy cases.SPSS v.20 was used for analysis. Categorical variables were analyzed descriptively in the form of frequency and percentages. Results: Our study included 120 subjects; 29.16% were female and 70.83% were male. In the 16–30 age group, 67 cases were reported, while 29 were reported in the 31–45 age group. Urban regions accounted for 61.66% (n=74), while rural areas accounted for 38.33% (n=46).73 cases were from mechanical asphyxia followed by 33 cases of traumatic asphyxia. Regarding the manner of death, hanging is more prevalent than drowning and strangulation. Conclusion: Asphyxia was the leading cause of death for middle-aged men.The number of deaths caused by asphyxia was higher in urban regions compared to rural ones. Mechanical asphyxia was the most prevalent form of the condition. Hanging was the most common pattern of asphyxia death than drowning and strangulation.