Bates Alan W H
Acad Forensic Pathol. 2023 Mar;13(1):3-8. doi: 10.1177/19253621231160647. Epub 2023 Apr 18.
In order to reduce transmission of COVID-19, in March 2020 the UK national and devolved governments imposed restrictions including spatial distancing, stay-at-home orders, and travel restrictions. The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of cases referred to the Coronial system for autopsy in the months before and during the lockdown period.
In all, 580 autopsy cases, performed in the London area between January and June 2020 were included in the study.
In the postlockdown period, there was an increase in the proportion of black individuals referred for autopsy, which just attained statistical significance ( = 0.047). The proportion of decomposed bodies submitted for examination was significantly increased ( = 0.011). The study did not show a significant increase in the proportion of out-of-hospital (community) deaths, traumatic deaths, or deaths due to alcohol or drug abuse or overdose.
The study shows no evidence that COVID-19 preventative measures led to a change in the causes of death referred to the Coroner, except, of course, for COVID-related deaths. The proportion of black people among subjects for autopsy increased, probably because of a relatively higher incidence of COVID deaths among this group. Decomposed subjects were more common, probably due to social isolation.
为减少新冠病毒的传播，2020年3月英国国家及地方政府实施了包括空间距离限制、居家令和旅行限制在内的措施。本研究旨在比较封锁期之前及期间提交给死因裁判系统进行尸检的病例特征。
本研究纳入了2020年1月至6月在伦敦地区进行的580例尸检病例。
在封锁期之后，被转介进行尸检的黑人个体比例有所增加，且刚达到统计学显著性（P = 0.047）。送检的已腐烂尸体比例显著增加（P = 0.011）。该研究未显示院外（社区）死亡、创伤性死亡或因酒精或药物滥用或过量导致的死亡比例有显著增加。
该研究表明，没有证据显示新冠病毒预防措施导致提交给死因裁判官的死亡原因发生变化，当然新冠相关死亡除外。尸检对象中黑人的比例增加，可能是因为该群体中新冠死亡的发病率相对较高。已腐烂的对象更为常见，可能是由于社会隔离。
