Study of natural causes of death in medicolegal autopsies seen in University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To provide a comprehensive report on the various causes of natural death in our centre and consider its implication for prevention. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross sectional study of post mortem reports, autopsy registers and duplicate copies of death certificates of all cases of SND on which autopsy was performed on in UBTH, Benin City, between 1990 and 2009. Results: Of the 4481 medicolegal deaths autopsied during the period, 2734 (61.0%) cases were SND, involving 1614 males and 1120 females with a M:F ratio of 1.4:1. The modal age group was 25-44 years which accounted for 30.2% of the cases. Cardiovascular system diseases occurred most and accounted for 30.2% of all cases, with complications of hypertension accounting for 79.5% of all cardiovascular system diseases. Other causes of SND include; gastrointestinal/hepatic diseases, 15.1%; respiratory system diseases, 13.8%; genitourinary system diseases, 10.1%; immune/ infectious diseases, 9.9% and endocrine/metabolic diseases, 7.7%. Less common causes are central nervous system diseases, haemato-lymphoid system diseases, breast diseases retroperitoneal diseases and musculoskeletal system disease each accounting for 6.6%, 5.4%, 0.7%, 0.4%, and 0.1% respectively. Conclusion: Cardiovascular system diseases, with complications of hypertension are the leading cause of SND in our environment. Public enlightenment on the need for routine medical health checks will help to reduce the incidence of SND.

Keywords

• sudden natural death; causes of natural deaths