Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
  • Year: 2013
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 2

Death Profile in Elderly - A Study in District Hospital Tumkur, South India

  • Author:
  • R Rajendra Kumar1,2, P Srinivasa Reddy1,2,, S Rudramurthy1,2
  • Total Page Count: 3
  • Page Number: 144 to 146

1District General Hospital, Tumkur

2Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Siddhartha Medical College & Hospital, Tumkur

*Corresponding author: Srinivasa Reddy P, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Sri Siddhartha Medical College & Hospital, Tumkur. Email ID:drreddyfm1976@yahoo.co.in

Online published on 23 July, 2013.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the cause and manner of death in the elderly people. The elderly people are ones, who are aged 60 years and above, form 7.4% 1 of the total population, are the most neglected people in the society. Data were collected from district hospital Tumkur. The total number of autopsies performed at district hospital, Tumkur over a five-year period, between the years 2006 to 2010. Of the 2288 cases 173 deaths were seen in elderly people. Of this 46 deaths were due to natural cause and 127 deaths were due to unnatural causes. Accidental deaths were more than the suicidal or homicidal deaths. Cardiovascular diseases and accidents were the major cause in natural and unnatural deaths respectively. Deaths were seen more in males than females.

Keywords

Elderly People, Autopsy, District hospital, Accidental, Natural Disease