Ethanol levels in legally autopsied subjects (2016-2017): update of data and epidemiological implications in relation to violent deaths in Canary Islands (Spain)

• Published in: Journal of forensic and legal medicine Vol. 68; p. 101868
• Main Authors: Almeida-González, M, OP, Luzardo, LD, Boada, E, Zaragoza, MJ, Meilán, M, Zumbado, Henríquez-Hernández, L.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - mortality; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood alcohol concentration; Canary islands; Central Nervous System Depressants - analysis; Child; Ethanol - analysis; Female; Forensic sciences; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pathology; Prospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Spain - epidemiology; Suicide, Completed - statistics & numerical data; Suicides; Traffic accidents; Violence - statistics & numerical data; Vitreous Body - chemistry; Vitreous humor alcohol concentration; Young Adult; Spain; traffic accidents; Canary Islands; forensic sciences; suicides; blood alcohol concentration; vitreous humor alcohol concentration; Blood alcohol concentration; Traffic accidents; Canary islands; Vitreous humor alcohol concentration; Suicides; Forensic sciences
• ISSN: 1752-928X; 1878-7487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2019.101868

AbstractThe aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of ethanol in individuals (277) subjected to a mandatory medico-legal autopsy in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain) during 2016-2017, comparing the results with data published in 2015. Blood and/or vitreous humor samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. 31.8% of the individuals were positive to ethanol. We observed a decrease in the prevalence of ethanol among males ( p = 0.002). While the prevalence of ethanol was reduced, the concentration among those positive subjects has increased. 11.9% of the series died in a traffic accident and the percentage of positive to ethanol decreased in relation to 2015 (64.3, 25.0, and 35.3%). The number of suicides remains constant, although the age of the suiciders has been significantly reduced ( p = 0.022). The results of this study indicate that ethanol is still heavily involved in non-natural deaths.