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Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 2/2023

Open Access 21-03-2023 | Obesity | Original Article

Pulmonary thromboembolism and obesity in forensic pathologic case work

Authors: Michael Klintschar, Kirsten Wöllner, Lars Hagemeier, Theresa A. Engelmann, Jan Mahlmann, Alessia Lunow, Roman Wolff-Maras

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 2/2023

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Abstract

328 autopsy cases of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) were compared to 984 age- and sex-matched controls to evaluate the association between obesity and PE in a forensic context. Both PE and control cases had a mean age of 67,8 years (male 62,9 years, females 71,7 years). The percentage of morbidly obese persons with a body mass index (BMI) of above 40 or abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of above 4 cm was higher in the PE group (8,39% vs. 4,67% and 29.45% vs. 23.40%, respectively). On the other side, that of very slim persons (BMI below 18.5 or adipose tissue below 3 cm) was significantly smaller (4,27% vs. 7,52% and 47.55% vs. 56,60%). We thus found a strong association between being overweight and death from PE, while slim persons seem to be at an advantage. As the group of underweight persons includes those suffering from chronic diseases with reduced mobility or hypercoagulability (e.g. tumor kachexia or sarkopenia due to immobilisation), this finding is to some extent unexpected.
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Metadata
Title
Pulmonary thromboembolism and obesity in forensic pathologic case work
Authors
Michael Klintschar
Kirsten Wöllner
Lars Hagemeier
Theresa A. Engelmann
Jan Mahlmann
Alessia Lunow
Roman Wolff-Maras
Publication date
21-03-2023
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 2/2023
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00602-9

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