Mortality in Cases of Acute Alcohol Intoxication in Children: A 10-Year Retrospective Study of the Moscow Region, Russia.
Journal
The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology
ISSN: 1533-404X
Titre abrégé: Am J Forensic Med Pathol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8108948
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 Sep 2022
01 Sep 2022
Historique:
pubmed:
10
6
2022
medline:
17
8
2022
entrez:
9
6
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Russia suffers from high alcohol-related mortality. Most forensic autopsies in Russia include blood alcohol tests, but a systematic analysis of these data has never been conducted for children's deaths. We performed an analysis of juvenile mortality using autopsy reports from the Moscow Region Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018. Despite a decrease in incidence ( Rs = -0.661), the number of cases of alcohol intoxication in minors was still high. The mean age of children in our study was 14.77 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.31-15.23). Death was predominantly among boys (72%) and those with higher blood alcohol concentrations (mean difference [MD], 0.295; 95% CI MD , 0.012-0.58). The number of cases of unnatural death increased with age ( Rs = 0.746, P = 0.001). Accidents were the most predominant cause of death, followed by suicide, homicide, and natural causes. Fatal alcohol intoxication was observed at an average blood alcohol concentration of 3.58 g/L (95% CI, 1.46-5.7), without any specific signs on autopsy. Even a strong smell of alcohol is an unreliable sign in the clinic. A systematic study of alcohol in forensic autopsy shows that the number of children who die with alcohol intoxication is high. Teenagers are the predominant age group experiencing alcohol intoxication. In our opinion, an alcohol blood test should be performed in all suspicious cases, especially in teenagers.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Russia suffers from high alcohol-related mortality. Most forensic autopsies in Russia include blood alcohol tests, but a systematic analysis of these data has never been conducted for children's deaths.
METHODS
METHODS
We performed an analysis of juvenile mortality using autopsy reports from the Moscow Region Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Despite a decrease in incidence ( Rs = -0.661), the number of cases of alcohol intoxication in minors was still high. The mean age of children in our study was 14.77 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.31-15.23). Death was predominantly among boys (72%) and those with higher blood alcohol concentrations (mean difference [MD], 0.295; 95% CI MD , 0.012-0.58). The number of cases of unnatural death increased with age ( Rs = 0.746, P = 0.001). Accidents were the most predominant cause of death, followed by suicide, homicide, and natural causes. Fatal alcohol intoxication was observed at an average blood alcohol concentration of 3.58 g/L (95% CI, 1.46-5.7), without any specific signs on autopsy. Even a strong smell of alcohol is an unreliable sign in the clinic.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
A systematic study of alcohol in forensic autopsy shows that the number of children who die with alcohol intoxication is high. Teenagers are the predominant age group experiencing alcohol intoxication. In our opinion, an alcohol blood test should be performed in all suspicious cases, especially in teenagers.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35679160
doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000764
pii: 00000433-202209000-00005
doi:
Substances chimiques
Blood Alcohol Content
0
Ethanol
3K9958V90M
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
231-235Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors report no conflict of interest.
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