Spectrum of unnatural deaths associated with positive toxicology findings in Eastern Province, KSA: An autopsy based study

Background Mortality statistics are crucial for monitoring changes in death rates, demographics and causes. The importance of autopsy performance and result documentation for mortality statistics has been referred to and debated over a long period in many places all over the world. Objective To determine the spectrum of unnatural deaths, focusing on toxicological findings in respect to gender susceptibility, inhabitant nationality, manners and causes of death, and weaponry over a period of five years in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods The unnatural deaths whether suicidal, homicidal or, accidental fatalities in the period from 2009 to 2013 in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia were retrospectively studied from autopsy reports. Results Of the 1335 cases examined in the Dammam Forensic Center over five years, 220 unnatural fatalities were positive for alcohol and poisons. All positive cases were investigated retrospectively by the Forensic Medical Authority, Eastern Province in the five years period starting from 2009 till 2013. Toxicological results in the examined samples were obtained for all studied cases. The subjects were chiefly males (90.9%), most of the cases were in the young age group aging between 21 and 30 years of age (30.5%). Accidental causes significantly predominated (61.8%) over suicidal and homicidal causes (20.5%, and 10.9% respectively). Most of the cases were Saudi (45%), followed by Indian nationals (25.5%). Conclusion In conclusion, this study highlights key findings of demographic differences in unnatural deaths in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.