Korean J Leg Med.  2016 Nov;40(4):104-118. 10.7580/kjlm.2016.40.4.104.

A Statistical Analysis on Forensic Autopsies Performed in Korea in 2015

Affiliations
  • 1Forensic Medicine Division, National Forensic Service Gwangju Institute, Jangseong, Korea. pdrdream@gmail.com
  • 2Medical Examiner's Office, National Forensic Service, Wonju, Korea.
  • 3National Forensic Service, Wonju, Korea.

Abstract

The statistical analysis of forensic autopsies provides basic data for the postmortem investigation system and is the foundation of the statistics used in the analysis of the causes of death. A statistical analysis was performed on national forensic autopsy data collected in the Republic of Korea during 2015 to overcome regional limitations and limitations from the number of unusual deaths in the current forensic autopsy research. A total of 6,610 cases were categorized based on the region, requested Police Agency or Coast Guard, gender, age, manner of death, and cause of death. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 3,326 cases (50.3%) were unnatural death, 2,754 cases (41.7%) were natural death, and 530 cases (8.0%) were of unknown. Of the 3,326 cases of unnatural death, the majority (1,275 cases, 38.3%) were accidents, 1,040 cases (31.3%) were suicide, 481 cases (14.5%) were homicide, and 530 cases (15.9%) were undetermined death. Among the unnatural death, the majority (1,330 cases, 40.0%) were trauma, followed by 588 cases (17.7%) of asphyxia and 566 cases (17.0%) of poisoning. Fall down were the major cause of death by trauma (538 cases, 40.5%). On the basis of a previous study, there were 588 cases of asphyxia; strangulation was the major cause, with 472 cases (80.3%). Of the 2,754 cases of natural death, heart disease was the major cause (1,417 cases, 51.5%), followed by vascular disease (503 cases, 18.3%).

Keyword

Autopsy; Cause of death; Statistical data interpretations; Korea

MeSH Terms

Asphyxia
Autopsy*
Cause of Death
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Heart Diseases
Homicide
Humans
Korea*
Military Personnel
Poisoning
Police
Republic of Korea
Suicide
Vascular Diseases

Cited by  6 articles

Study for Lists of Forensic Autopsy Request: Quantitative Analysis about Documents Relating to Autopsy Request
Ji Hye Park, Joo-Young Na, Bo Young Lee, Song Hee Song
Korean J Leg Med. 2018;42(2):39-43.    doi: 10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.2.39.

A Statistical Analysis on Forensic Autopsies Performed in Korea in 2016
Ji Hye Park, Joo-Young Na, Bong Woo Lee, Young Shik Choi
Korean J Leg Med. 2018;42(1):8-21.    doi: 10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.1.8.

Discrepancy of the Cause of Death in Autopsy Cases of Cardiovascular Disease with a Focus on Cause of Death Statistics
Joo-Young Na, Ji Hye Park, Bong-Woo Lee, Bo-Young Lee
Korean J Leg Med. 2017;41(4):100-106.    doi: 10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.4.100.

Statistical Analysis of Legal Autopsy Cases Performed in the Jeollabuk-do Province of Korea in 2016
Seung Jin Yoo, Ho Lee, Sang Jae Noh
Korean J Leg Med. 2017;41(4):107-114.    doi: 10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.4.107.

Sudden Cardiac Death due to Coronary Fibromuscular Dysplasia: Case Report and Literature Review
Moon-Young Kim, Inho Kang, Minsung Choi, Sohyung Park, Soong Deok Lee
Korean J Leg Med. 2018;42(1):26-32.    doi: 10.7580/kjlm.2018.42.1.26.

Inclusion of lactate level measured upon emergency room arrival in trauma outcome prediction models improves mortality prediction: a retrospective, single-center study
Jonghwan Moon, Kyungjin Hwang, Dukyong Yoon, Kyoungwon Jung
Acute Crit Care. 2020;35(2):102-109.    doi: 10.4266/acc.2019.00780.


Reference

1.Kang DY., Kang HW., Kwak JS, et al. A textbook of legal medicine. Seoul: Jungmungak;1995.
2.Na JY., Min BW., Lee YJ, et al. The statistical analysis on the legal autopsy cases in Gwang-ju and Chonnam area of Korea in 2007 and 2008. Korean J Leg Med. 2009. 33:32–9.
3.Na JY., Park JP., Choi MS, et al. The statistical analysis on legal autopsies in 2011 (the headquarters of National Forensic Service). Korean J Leg Med. 2012. 36:165–73.
4.Na JY., Park JP., Park HJ, et al. The statistical analysis on legal autopsy performed in Korea during 2012 year. Korean J Leg Med. 2013. 37:198–207.
Article
5.Jang SJ., Park JP., Choi BH, et al. The statistical analysis on legal autopsy performed in Korea during 2013 year. Korean J Leg Med. 2014. 38:145–54.
Article
6.Jang JS., Jang SJ., Choi BH, et al. A statistical analysis of legal autopsies performed in Korea in 2014. Korean J Leg Med. 2015. 39:99–108.
Article
7.Korean Statistical Information Service [Internet]. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;2016. [cited 2016 Sep 27]. Available from:. http://kosis.kr/.
8.Korean National Police Agency [Internet]. Seoul: National Police Agency;2016. [cited 2016 Sep 27]. Available from:. http://www.police.go.kr/.
9.Ministry of Public Safety and Security [Internet]. Sejong: Ministry of Public Safety and Security;2016. [cited 2016 Sep 27]. Available from:. http://www.mpss.go.kr/.
10.Korea Standard Classification of Disease (KCD) [Internet]. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;2015. [cited 2015 Oct 1]. Available from:. http://kostat.go.kr.
11.Hong CE. Pediatrics. 7th ed.Seoul: Daehan Printing and Publishing Co.;2001. p. 15–6.
12.Na JY., Park JP., Yang KM, et al. A classification of asphyxia autopsy cases of the Korea in 2012 according to new classification of asphyxia. Korean J Leg Med. 2014. 38:8–12.
Article
13.Hoyert DL. The changing profile of autopsied deaths in the United States, 1972-2007. NCHS Data Brief. 2011. 67:1–8.
14.Kim HG., Park JW., Cho WY, et al. The discrepancy of the cause and manner of death between death certificates and autopsy reports. Korean J Leg Med. 2014. 38:139–44.
Article
15.Huh GY., Kim KH., Jo GR, et al. Differences in the determination of cause and manner of 127 natural death cases by postmortem inspection and autopsy. Korean J Leg Med. 2013. 37:9–13.
Article
16.Kapusta ND., Tran US., Rockett IR, et al. Declining autopsy rates and suicide misclassification: a cross-national analysis of 35 countries. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011. 68:1050–7.
Full Text Links
  • KJLM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr