Introduction
Materials and methods
Cause of death | Sharp instrument injury | Blunt force trauma | Fire | Intoxication | Asphyxia | Drowning | Hypothermia | Hyperthermia | Acute heart failure | Natural causes (others) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supine position at time of discovery (n = 291) | ||||||||||
N | 21 | 105 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 35 |
Age (y) | 27–91 (60) | 15–100 (62) | 28–97 (69) | 20–96 (47) | 9–84 (54) | 65–96 (78) | 44–91 (61) | 24–95 (67) | 25–88 (65) | 26–93 (67) |
Sex (male/female) | 12/9 | 79/26 | 17/13 | 19/9 | 13/6 | 6/2 | 9/2 | 11/6 | 13/4 | 22/13 |
Body mass index | 17.2–28.9 (22.7) | 12.0–49.4 (22.2) | 14.3–40.7 (22.3) | 14.8–35.4 (23.8) | 14.0–30.8 (20.1) | 16.1–23.5 (21.0) | 12.0–21.8 (16.4) | 13.0–25.3 (19.4) | 14.2–29.7 (21.9) | 11.6–37.4 (21.1) |
Postmortem period (days) | 0.5–3 (1.5) | 0.5–14 (1.5) | 0.5–2 (1) | 0.5–10 (2) | 1–4 (1.5) | 0.5–2.5 (1.5) | 1–30 (6) | 1–10 (2.5) | 0.5–20 (2.5) | 0.5–7 (2) |
Medical care | 4 | 53 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Prone position at time of discovery (n = 123) | ||||||||||
Number | 4 | 36 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 15 |
Age (y) | 44–70 (56) | 18–79 (52) | 47–73 (63) | 20–60 (40) | 23–68 (49) | 19–80 (55) | 47–84 (75) | 63–71 (68) | 16–67 (42) | 11–80 (55) |
Sex (male/female) | 4/0 | 28/8 | 9/4 | 10/7 | 5/4 | 6/7 | 4/2 | 2/1 | 6/1 | 10/5 |
Body mass index | 19.8–25.0 (22.5) | 14.2–35.8 (21.9) | 14.3–35.5 (20.7) | 16.7–29.0 (22.4) | 17.2–25.4 (21.1) | 17.9–27.4 (21.7) | 17.2–25.6 (19.3) | 18.6–26.0 (21.1) | 17.7–36.8 (24.4) | 15.6–35.6 (22.9) |
Postmortem period (days) | 1–4 (3) | 0.5–7 (1.5) | 0.5–4 (1) | 1–14 (3) | 0.5–7 (2) | 0.5–3 (2) | 1–10 (4) | 1–4 (2.5) | 0.5–20 (3) | 0.5–5 (1.5) |
Medical care | 1 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Cause of death | Sharp instrument injury | Blunt force trauma | Fire | Intoxication | Asphyxia | Drowning | Hypothermia | Hyperthermia | Acute heart failure | Natural causes (others) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supine position at time of discovery (n = 18) | ||||||||||
N | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
Age (y) | – | 0–1 (0) | – | – | 0, 3 | – | – | – | 0 | 0–1 (0) |
Sex (male/female) | – | 4/1 | – | – | 1/1 | – | – | – | 1/0 | 5/5 |
Kaup index | – | 13.1–20.7 (17.6) | – | – | 13.7, 15.5 (14.6) | – | – | – | 17.8 | 11.4–17.4 (14.6) |
Postmortem period (days) | – | 1–2 (1.4) | – | – | 1.5–2 (1.6) | – | – | – | 1 | 1–4 (1.1) |
Medical care | – | 4 | – | – | 0 | – | – | – | 2 | 2 |
Prone position at time of discovery (n = 10) | ||||||||||
Number | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Age (y) | – | 4 | – | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0–4 (1) |
Sex (male/female) | – | 1/0 | – | 0/1 | – | – | – | 0/1 | 1/0 | 5/1 |
Kaup index | – | 9.8 | – | 13.3 | – | – | – | 18.4 | 15.3 | 11.3–18.0 (14.6) |
Postmortem period (days) | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | – | – | 2 | 1.5 | 0.5–2 (1) |
Medical care | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Statistical analysis
Results
Supine position
Appearance of petechiae based on postmortem period
Appearance ratios of petechiae based on BMI and Kaup index for individuals aged >5 and < 5 years, respectively
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 291) | ||||
BMI | <18.5 | 18.5- < 25.0 | 25.0- < 30.0 | 30.0–34.99 |
N | 70 | 159 | 47 | 15 |
Numerous (>10) | 11.4% (8/70) | 27.0% (43/159) | 31.9% (15/47) | 60.0% (9/15) |
Several (<10) | 20.0% (14/70) | 31.4% (50/159) | 29.8% (14/47) | 13.3% (2/15) |
None | 68.6% (48/70) | 41.5% (66/159) | 38.3% (18/47) | 26.7% (4/15) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||
Numerous (>10) | 12.9% (9/70) | 31.4% (50/159) | 42.6% (20/47) | 60.0% (9/15) |
Several (<10) | 22.9% (16/70) | 31.4% (50/159) | 26.5% (12/47) | 20.0% (3/15) |
None | 64.3% (45/70) | 37.1% (59/159) | 31.9% (15/47) | 20.0% (3/15) |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage | ||||
8.6% (6/70) | 14.5% (23/159) | 29.8% (14/47) | 20.0% (3/15) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 18) | ||||
Kaup Index | <13.0 | 13.0- < 15.0 | 15.0–19.0 | >19.0 |
N | 2 | 6 | 9 | 1 |
Numerous (>10) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/9) | 0% (0/1) |
Several (<10) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/6) | 33.3% (3/9) | 0% (0/1) |
None | 100% (2/2) | 100% (6/6) | 66.7% (6/9) | 100% (1/1) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||
Numerous (>10) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/9) | 0% (0/1) |
Several (<10) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/6) | 33.3% (3/9) | 0% (0/1) |
None | 100% (2/2) | 100% (6/6) | 66.7% (6/9) | 100% (1/1) |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage | ||||
0% (0/2) | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/9) | 0% (0/1) |
Appearance of petechiae according to cause of death
Cause of death | Sharp instrument injury | Blunt force trauma | Fire | Intoxication | Asphyxia | Drowning | Hypothermia | Hyperthermia | Acute heart failure | Natural causes (others) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 291) | ||||||||||
N | 21 | 105 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 35 |
Numerous (>10) | 23.8% (5/21) | 22.9% (24/105) | 40.0% (12/30) | 32.1% (9/28) | 78.9% (15/19) | 25.0% (2/8) | 0.0% (0/11) | 5.9% (1/17) | 23.5% (4/17) | 11.4% (4/35) |
Several (<10) | 28.6% (6/21) | 33.3% (35/105) | 10.0% (3/30) | 21.4% (6/28) | 15.8% (3/19) | 50.0% (4.8) | 45.5% (5/11) | 23.5% (4/17) | 29.4% (5/17) | 25.7% (9/35) |
None | 47.6% (10/21) | 43.8% (46/105) | 50.0% (15/30) | 46.4% (13/28) | 5.3% (1/19) | 25.0% (2/8) | 54.5% (6/11) | 70.6% (12/17) | 47.1% (8/17) | 62.9% (22/35) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
Numerous (>10) | 28.6% (6/21) | 27.6% (29/105) | 40.0% (12/30) | 32.2% (9/28) | 89.5% (17/19) | 37.5% (3/8) | 0.0% (0/11) | 11.8% (2/17) | 35.3% (6/17) | 14.3% (5/35) |
Several (<10) | 28.6% (6/21) | 33.3% (35/105) | 16.7% (5/30) | 28.5% (8/28) | 5.3% (1/19) | 37.5% (3/8) | 45.5% (5/11) | 17.6% (3/17) | 29.4% (5/17) | 28.6% (10/35) |
None | 42.8% (9/21) | 39.0% (41/105) | 43.3% (13/30) | 39.3% (11/28) | 5.3% (1/19) | 25.0% (2/8) | 54.5% (6/11) | 70.6% (12/17) | 35.3% (6/17) | 57.1% (20/35) |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
14.3% (3/21) | 13.3% (14/105) | 20.0% (6/30) | 7.1% (2/28) | 31.6% (6/19) | 37.5% (3/8) | 9.1% (1/11) | 11.8% (2/17) | 29.4% (5/17) | 11.4% (4/35) |
Cause of death | Sharp instrument injury | Blunt force trauma | Fire | Intoxication | Asphyxia | Drowning | Hypothermia | Hyperthermia | Acute heart failure | Natural causes (others) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 18) | ||||||||||
N | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
Numerous (>10) | – | 0% (0/5) | – | – | 0% (0/2) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/10) |
Several (<10) | – | 40.0% (2/5) | – | – | 0% (0/2) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 10.0% (1/10) |
None | – | 60.0% (3/5) | – | – | 100% (2/2) | – | – | – | 100% (1/1) | 90.0% (9/10) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
Numerous (>10) | – | 0% (0/5) | – | – | 0% (0/2) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/10) |
Several (<10) | – | 40.0% (2/5) | – | – | 0% (0/2) | – | – | – | 29.4% (0/1) | 10.0% (1/10) |
None | – | 60.0% (3/5) | – | – | 100% (2/2) | – | – | – | 100% (1/1) | 90.0% (9/10) |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
– | 0% (0/5) | – | – | 0% (0/2) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/10) |
Appearance ratios of petechiae caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Statistical analysis
Prone position
Ratios of petechiae according to postmortem period
Ratios of petechiae according to BMI and Kaup index according to age > 5 and < 5 years, respectively
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 123) | ||||
BMI | <18.5 | 18.5- < 25.0 | 25.0–30.0 | >30.0 |
N | 33 | 61 | 24 | 5 |
Numerous (>10) | 33.3% (11/33) | 41.0% (25/61) | 58.3% (14/24) | 40.0% (2/5) |
Several (<10) | 24.2% (8/33) | 31.1% (19/61) | 25.0% (6/24) | 60.0% (3/5) |
None | 42.4% (14/33) | 27.9% (17/61) | 16.7% (4/24) | 0.0% (0/5) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||
Numerous (>10) | 36.4% (12/33) | 45.9% (28/61) | 75.0% (18/24) | 40.0% (2/5) |
Several (<10) | 21.2% (7/33) | 27.9% (17/61) | 8.3% (2/24) | 60.0% (3/5) |
None | 42.4% (14/33) | 26.2% (16/61) | 16.7% (4/24) | 0.0% (0/5) |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage | ||||
9.0% (3/33) | 9.8% (6/61) | 25.0% (6/24) | 0.0% (0/5) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 10) | ||||
Kaup Index | <13.0 | 13.0- < 15.0 | 15.0–19.0 | >19.0 |
N | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Numerous (>10) | 33.3% (1/3) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/5) | – |
Several (<10) | 33.3% (1/3) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/5) | – |
None | 33.3% (1/3) | 100% (2/2) | 100% (5/5) | – |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||
Numerous (>10) | 33.3% (1/3) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/5) | – |
Several (<10) | 33.3% (1/3) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/5) | – |
None | 33.3% (1/3) | 100% (2/2) | 100% (5/5) | – |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage | ||||
0% (0/3) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/5) | – |
Ratios of petechiae according to cause of death
Cause of death | Sharp instrument injury | Blunt force trauma | Fire | Intoxication | Asphyxia | Drowning | Hypothermia | Hyperthermia | Acute heart failure | Natural causes (others) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 123) | ||||||||||
N | 4 | 36 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 15 |
Numerous (>10) | 0.0% (0/4) | 30.6% (11/36) | 61.5% (8/13) | 47.1% (8/17) | 66.7% (6/9) | 38.5% (5/13) | 50.0% (3/6) | 33.3% (1/3) | 57.1% (4/7) | 40.0% (6/15) |
Several (<10) | 0.0% (0/4) | 27.8% (10/36) | 23.1% (3/13) | 23.5% (4/17) | 22.2% (2/9) | 38.5% (5/13) | 16.7% (1/6) | 66.7% (2/3) | 28.6% (2/7) | 36.7% (7/15) |
None | 100.0% (4/4) | 41.7% (15/36) | 15.4% (2/13) | 29.4% (5/17) | 11.1% (1/9) | 23.1% (3/13) | 33.3% (2/6) | 0% (0/3) | 14.3% (1/7) | 13.3% (2/15) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
Numerous (>10) | 0.0% (0/4) | 33.3% (12/36) | 61.5% (8/13) | 58.8% (10/17) | 77.8% (7/9) | 61.5% (8/13) | 50.0% (3/6) | 33.3% (1/3) | 71.4% (5/7) | 40.0% (6/15) |
Several (<10) | 0.0% (0/4) | 25.0% (9/36) | 23.1% (3/13) | 11.8% (2/17) | 11.1% (1/9) | 15.4% (2/13) | 16.7% (1/6) | 66.7% (2/3) | 14.3% (1/7) | 53.3% (8/15) |
None | 100.0% (4/4) | 41.7% (15/36) | 15.4% (2/13) | 29.4% (5/17) | 11.1% (1/9) | 23.1% (3/13) | 33.3% (2/6) | 0% (0/4) | 14.3% (1/7) | 6.7% (1/15) |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
0.0% (0/4) | 5.6% (2/36) | 15.4% (2/13) | 17.6% (3/17) | 10.0% (1/10) | 23.1% (3/13) | 0.0% (0/6) | 0.0% (0/3) | 14.3% (1/7) | 20.0% (3/15) |
Cause of death | Sharp instrument injury | Blunt force trauma | Fire | Intoxication | Asphyxia | Drowning | Hypothermia | Hyperthermia | Acute heart failure | Natural causes (others) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage before changing position (n = 18) | ||||||||||
N | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Numerous (>10) | – | 100% (1/1) | – | 0% (0/1) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/6) |
Several (<10) | – | 0% (0/1) | – | 0% (0/1) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/1) | 16.7% (1/6) |
None | – | 0% (0/1) | – | 100% (1/1) | – | – | – | 100% (1/1) | 100% (1/1) | 83.3% (5/6) |
Ratios of petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
Numerous (>10) | – | 100% (1/1) | – | 0% (0/1) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/6) |
Several (<10) | – | 0% (0/1) | – | 0% (0/1) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/1) | 16.7% (1/6) |
None | – | 0% (0/1) | – | 100% (1/1) | – | – | – | 100% (1/1) | 100% (1/1) | 83.3% (5/6) |
Rates of increases in petechial hemorrhage after changing position | ||||||||||
– | 0% (0/1) | – | 0% (0/1) | – | – | – | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/1) | 0% (0/6) |