Dynamics and structure of forensic medical investigations of violent death in St. Petersburg over the past 10 years

Abstract

The levels of injuries and violent death depend on the state of the economy and health care in the region and the state as a whole. In recent years, another significant factor has been the spread of a new coronavirus infection. The purpose of the work is to study the dynamics of the volume and structure of violent death in the Russian Federation over the past 10 years, including the period of the spread of a new infection, using the example of a megalopolis. Research material: annual reports of the Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of St. Petersburg. Methods: data grouping, frequency analysis, correlation analysis, comparison, system analysis, inductive generalization. Results. Over the past 10 years, a number of significant changes have taken place in St. Petersburg in the scope and structure of forensic medical investigations of violent deaths. The main positive trend was a decrease in the absolute and relative number of cases of violent death. Statistically significantly (p0.05), the number of cases of transport trauma, injuries resulting from the action of blunt and sharp objects, gunshot, thermal trauma, mechanical asphyxia, as well as poisoning with ethanol and carbon monoxide decreased significantly; infant mortality decreased; there were fewer unidentified and unclaimed corpses. Along with this, there was a steady increase in the number of drug poisoning; the level of fatal injury as a result of falling from a height remained consistently high. The background incidence of a new coronavirus infection in 2020 was 2.4-3.2%. Among the dead with a confirmed diagnosis of a new coronavirus infection, the proportion of cases of falling from a height, thermal burns, strangulation with a noose increased; transport (primarily rail), gunshot and explosive injuries, cases of drowning, poisoning with drugs and alcohol detection in the biological environments of the body of the victims were less common.