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Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess causes of death among 258 unnaturally deceased drug addicts who had been part of an earlier longitudinal follow-up of 1,630 patients treated in Stockholm County. An evaluation of the causes of death was carried out on the basis of hospital records and autopsy protocols. The majority of deaths were caused by accidents (39%) and suicides (31%). Intoxications were involved in 67 of the 101 accidents. Violent methods were employed in 40 of the 79 suicides. An exceptionally large proportion (28%) of the fatalities occurred during or immediately after hospitalization, which calls for increased attention to this patient group by the health services.
RESUMÉ
L'objectif de l'étude etait de déterminer les causes de décés parmi 258 toxicomaes décédés, qui avaient fait parti d'une suivie longitudinale de 1630 toxicomanes traités dans des hôpitaux dans le département de Stockholm. Une évaluation des causes de décés a été faite a partir de dossiers hospitaliers et dossiers d'autopsies. La plupart des décés étaient dus a des accidents (39%) et des suicides (31%). Des intoxications ont été impliquées dans 67 des 101 accidents. Des methodes violentes ont été utilisées dans 40 des 79 suicides. Une proportion exceptionelle des décés ont eu lieu pendant ou immédiatement aprés une période de hospitalisation, ce qui fait appel à une meilleure attention à ce groupe de malades.
RESUMEN
La intentión de este trabajo fue para examinar las causas de la muerte entre 258 drogadictos muertos en extrañas circunstancias. Fue parte de un estudio de seguimiento con 1,630 enfermos tratados en la provincia de Estocolomo. Una evaluatión de las causas de la muerte fue realizada a partir de las fichas del hospital y los protocolos de autopsia (39%) y suicidios (31%). Intoxicationes han occurido en 67 de los 101 accidentes. Métodos violentos fueron usados en 40 de los 79 suicidios. Una proportión exceptionalmente grande (28%) de las fatalidades occurrieron durante o immediatemente después la hospitalizatión, hecho que demuestra la necesidad de estar más atento a este grupo de pacientes en los servicios de salud.
Caroline Adamsson Wahren, B.A., is a Sociologist working at the Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Alcohol and Drug Research Section as a research assistant with special interest in narcotic addiction field.
Peter Allebeck, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Social Medicine at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and head of the Department of Social Medicine with public health functions in the city of Gothenburg. His main fields of research are epidemiology and health services research with focus on mental disorders and substance misuse. He is particularly interested in longitudinal population-based studies.
Jovan Rajs, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and a specialist in forensic medicine and clinical pathology. His main fields of research are experimental and clinical cardiac pathology, drug-related pathology and mortality, and problems related to sudden infant death syndrome.