Yonsei Med J.  2013 Mar;54(2):480-488. 10.3349/ymj.2013.54.2.480.

Causes of Death of Prisoners of War during the Korean War (1950-1953)

• Lee MS
• Kang MJ
• Huh S

• KMID: 1503914
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2013.54.2.480

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed at analyzing the causes of death of prisoners of war (POWs) during the Korean War (1950-1953) who fought for the Communist side (North Korea and the People's Republic of China). In 1998, the United States Department of Defense released new information about the prisoners including, 7,614 deaths of the POW during the Korean War. The data on the causes of death of the POWs during the Korean War provides valuable information on the both the public health and history of the conflict.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
To analyze the causes of death of the POWs, we classified the clinical diagnosis and findings on 7,614 deaths into 22 chapters, as outlined in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10th Revision (ICD-10). Second, we traced changes in the monthly death totals of POWs as well as deaths caused by common infectious diseases and external causes of death including injury over time from August 1950 to September 1953.
RESULTS
The most common category of causes of deaths of POWs was infectious disease, 5,013 (65.8%) out of 7,614 deaths, followed by external causes including injury, 817 (10.7%). Overall, tuberculosis and dysentery/diarrhea were the most common causes of death. Deaths caused by acute and chronic infection, or external causes showed different patterns of increases and decline over time during the Korean War.
CONCLUSION
The information and data on POWs' deaths during the Korean War reflects the critical impact of the POWs' living conditions and the effect of public health measures implemented in POW camps during the war.

Keyword

Prisoners of war (POW); Korean War; causes of deaths; infectious diseases

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
*Cause of Death
Child
China/epidemiology
Communicable Diseases/epidemiology
Democratic People's Republic of Korea/epidemiology
History, 20th Century
Humans
Korean War
Middle Aged
Prisoners of War/*history

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Number of monthly deaths of prisoners of war caused by Dysenteries, Tuberculosis, and External causes during the Korean War.

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  Fig. 2 Number of deaths for each 3 months of prisoners of war caused by Dysenteries, Tuberculosis, and External causes during the Korean War.

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