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Cardiac disease and driver fatality.
- Source :
-
Forensic Science, Medicine & Pathology . Sep2022, Vol. 18 Issue 3, p329-332. 4p. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- To determine the role of cardiac disease in driver fatalities, a retrospective review of autopsy files at Forensic Science SA in Adelaide, Australia, was undertaken over a 13-year-period January 2005–December 2017 for individuals aged ≥ 40 years who had died while driving a motor vehicle. The incidence of significant coronary artery atherosclerosis (CAA) and cardiomegaly was evaluated with comparisons between drivers and a control group of passengers. Autopsy examinations were performed on 303 drivers and 72 passengers who died of trauma and on 63 drivers who died of a cardiac event while driving. The average age for drivers dying of trauma was 58.5 years (range 40–93 years) with 48 (15.8%) having CAA and 31 (10.2%) having cardiomegaly. This was not statistically different to passengers (aged 63.3 years; range 40–93 years; 20.8% having CAA; 11 (15.2%) cardiomegaly; (p > 0.2). Drivers with significant cardiac disease did not, therefore, have increased rates of death in crashes, although a distinct subgroup of drivers consisted of those who had died from cardiac events and not trauma, while driving. The latter may be increasing in number given the aging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1547769X
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Forensic Science, Medicine & Pathology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 159792365
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-022-00475-4