[Burn fatalities in advanced age].

Abstract

At the Institute for Legal Medicine in Hamburg (investigation period 1983 to 1993) post mortem examinations were carried out in 45 elder people ( > 60 years) who died from major burns. This retrospective epidemiologic and descriptive study evaluates the factors associated with accidents and suicides in relation to the burn surface area, burn depth, location, the cause of death in the burn victims and carbon monoxide or cyanide gas poisoning. Severe burn injuries were the most common cause of death (41%), and in the majority of our cases the traumatic shock led to death during the first two hours. The accidents occurred at home, and were frequently connected with alcoholism and chronic diseases.

• Authors: M Sánchez-Hanke, K Püschel
• Journal: Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie (Z Gerontol Geriatr) 1996 May-Jun Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 185-90 ISSN: 0948-6704 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Brandtodesfälle im fortgeschrittenen Alter.
• PMID: 8767014 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Accidents (statistics & numerical data)
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Alcoholic Intoxication (mortality, pathology)
• Autopsy
• Burns (mortality, pathology)
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (mortality, pathology)
• Cause of Death
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Germany (epidemiology)
• Homicide (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Suicide (statistics & numerical data)
• Suicide Prevention