Is Obesity a Factor in Sudden Asthmatic Deaths?

Abstract

To determine whether there could be an association between obesity and acute fatal asthmatic episodes the autopsy files at Forensic Science SA, Australia, were searched over a 10-year period from 2007 to 2016 for cases where the cause of death was acute asthma. Thirty-three cases were identified (M:F = 1.2:1; age range 34-56yrs). BMIs ranged from 18.4-46.7 (mean 28.2). The nine cases with normal weights accounted for 27.3% of the total, compared to the South Australian coronial autopsy population of 32.1% and the general population of 35%; conversely the obese cases accounted for 33.3% compared to the South Australian coronial autopsy population of 27.2% and to the general population of 27.8%. This study demonstrates that individuals who present to medicolegal autopsy having died suddenly and unexpectedly during an asthmatic attack are likely to weigh more than individuals from the forensic autopsy and general populations. Calculation of BMI is an important part of the evaluation of such cases.