A critical review of sudden unexpected deaths at Tygerberg Hospital Forensic Pathology Laboratory over a one-year period in 2016

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dc.contributor.advisorVerster, J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorDempers, J. J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorOsman, Muhammaden_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRoman, Jillen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Pathology: Forensic Medicine.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-24T07:16:40Z
dc.date.available2021-05-24T07:16:40Z
dc.date.issued2021-03
dc.descriptionThesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBackground In South Africa, admissions of sudden and unexpected deaths to large Forensic Pathology Laboratories (FPL) for medicolegal post-mortem examination are generally on the increase. Research in this field is useful to identify disease patterns and to reduce unnecessary admissions to forensic pathology services. Objectives Our main aim was to determine the recent epidemiological profile of sudden and unexpected deaths admitted to Tygerberg FPL from 1 January to 31 December in 2016, compared to a past similar study that evaluated similar data of 2001 to 2005. A secondary objective was to ascertain the contribution of respiratory disease. Method A retrospective study was conducted. Anonymized data were obtained from post-mortem case files for analysis and comparison, using an electronic Open Data Kit application, Red Cap electronic database and Windows Excel for secure storage, and Statistical Package for Social Sciences for biostatistical analyses. Results The total number of cases that were admitted to Tygerberg FPL in 2016 for medicolegal post-mortem examination were 3766. The past epidemiological study at the same facility evaluating the data of 2001 to 2005, showed an annual average of approximately 2700 admissions. Admissions of more than 1000 above the previous annual average was thus demonstrated. Of the 3766 admissions in 2016, a sum of 770 cases comprised the study population of sudden and unexpected deaths, of which 539 (70%) were adults and 231(30%) children. All cases that were known to have an unnatural cause of death upon admission were excluded A younger average age of 34 years and continued male predominance was demonstrated in the study population. The manner of death was presumably natural in 496 (64.4%) cases, unnatural in 60 (7.8%) cases and undetermined in 214 (27.8%) cases. In the population of minors (<18 years of age), presumed natural deaths accounted for 145/231 (62.8%) cases. Diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems continued to be the leading natural causes of death in the overall study population. Pneumonia was the most prevalent cause of death in the population of minors (<18 years of age) and ischaemic heart disease in adults. Lower socio-economic status areas were more significantly affected. Conclusion Regular epidemiologic studies of sudden and unexpected deaths are needed in Cape Town’s Eastern Metropole for disease prevention and health promotion. Training of medical professionals and the South African Police Services is vital to better understand what a sudden and unexpected death is and when medico-legal referral is warranted. [370 words]en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaaraf_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extent21 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110479
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subjectRespiratory diseasesen_ZA
dc.subjectUCTDen_ZA
dc.subjectForensic pathologyen_ZA
dc.subjectForensic pathology -- Servicesen_ZA
dc.subjectSudden death -- Investigationsen_ZA
dc.subjectPost-mortem examinationsen_ZA
dc.titleA critical review of sudden unexpected deaths at Tygerberg Hospital Forensic Pathology Laboratory over a one-year period in 2016en_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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