The Danish National Research Foundation Centre for Cardiac Arrhythmia (DARC), Copenhagen, Denmark.
Int J Legal Med. 2012 Mar;126(2):223-9. doi: 10.1007/s00414-011-0602-5. Epub 2011 Jul 21.
Inherited disease may be causative in many young sudden unexpected death cases. Autopsy is essential in the counselling of the bereaved, as the family of the victim may be at risk too. In a nationwide setting operating under the same set of laws, we hypothesized that regional differences exist in the investigation of young persons dying suddenly and unexpectedly.
All deaths in persons aged 1-35 years in Denmark in 2000-2006 were included. Death certificates were read independently by two physicians. External examination as well as autopsy status was retrieved. Significant regional differences were found regarding external examinations and autopsy frequencies. Ratios of conducted external examinations varied between 63% and 93% (p = 0.004). Autopsy ratios varied between 60% and 88% (p = 0.001). In urban areas, external examinations and autopsies were more often conducted than in rural areas. In East Denmark, there were more external examinations resulting in a forensic autopsy, and there was a higher overall autopsy rate compared to West Denmark.
Despite operating under the same set of laws, we document significant regional differences in forensic investigations of young persons suffering a sudden unexpected death. This is probably not unique for Denmark although no data exist to confirm that. The results are worrying and call for a revision of the way these deaths are handled. Mandatory autopsy in sudden unexpected death in young persons is warranted as a thorough investigation of the death may help the clinician in guidance of the relatives in relation to hereditary diseases.
许多年轻人的意外猝死案例可能是由遗传疾病引起的。尸检对于失去亲人的家庭的咨询至关重要，因为受害者的家人也可能处于风险之中。在全国范围内，在相同的法律框架下运作，我们假设在调查年轻人突然意外死亡方面存在地区差异。
纳入了 2000 年至 2006 年丹麦年龄在 1-35 岁之间的所有死亡病例。死亡证明由两名医生独立阅读。检索了外部检查和尸检情况。发现外部检查和尸检频率存在显著的地区差异。进行的外部检查的比例在 63%到 93%之间（p=0.004）。尸检比例在 60%到 88%之间（p=0.001）。在城市地区，进行外部检查和尸检的比例高于农村地区。在东丹麦，更多的外部检查导致法医尸检，与西丹麦相比，总体尸检率更高。
尽管在相同的法律框架下运作，但我们记录了在对年轻人遭受意外突然死亡进行法医调查方面存在显著的地区差异。尽管没有数据可以证实，但这种情况在丹麦可能并不独特。这些结果令人担忧，需要对这些死亡的处理方式进行修订。在年轻人的意外猝死中强制进行尸检是合理的，因为对死亡的彻底调查可以帮助临床医生指导亲属了解遗传性疾病。
