Prevalence of potential risk factors in victims of electrocution

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk factors of fatal arrhythmia following electrical shock, by comparing the prevalence of transthoracic current, tetany, decreased skin resistance because of wet extremities, skin burns and heart disease in victims of electrocution with instant as opposed to delayed death.

Design: Retrospective case-control study, based on the charts from the coroner's office.

Results: A total of 124 deaths from electrocution occurred between 1987 and 1992. One victim presumably died from delayed arrhythmia and was excluded from the study. Twenty victims had decreased skin resistance because of wet extremities and five had tetany. Autopsy revealed coronary heart disease in 21 cases, and burns in 109; 10 did not have any skin lesion. There was no difference in risk factors between those who died instantly presumably from arrhythmia (n=114) and those who died later from other causes (n=9).

Conclusion: No differences in risk factors were found between victims who died immediately from arrhythmia following electrical shock and those died later from other causes.