

Pathology 2018
Research & Reviews: Journal of Medical and Health Sciences
ISSN: 2319-9865
Page 27
October 08-09, 2018
Edinburgh, Scotland
17
th
International Conference on
Pathology & Cancer
Epidemiology
Background:
Obesity is the fifth largest risk factor impacting
on global mortality and its incidence is rising. Contribution
of obesity to death rates is only measurable if included on
death certificates. Obesity causes deaths directly e.g., obesity
cardiomyopathy (OCM), and indirectly as a risk factor for
coronary heart disease (CHD) and other conditions. In this
study, we investigate the reporting of obesity and its inclusion
in death certificates in a single centre coronial autopsy service.
Methods:
Retrospective review of autopsy reports in the
Oxford pathology database across a three-year period (2014-
16). Autopsy reports were reviewed for height, weight & BMI,
prevalence of obesity & obesity-specific conditions, all-cause
mortality, CHD related mortality and mean age of death from
CHD in different BMI categories.
Results & Discussion:
Height and weight were omitted without
adequate reason; in 14% of reports analysed (n=1,514). Obesity
is poorly recognized on death certificates were present (just
5.1% on overall) identification of OCM in the morbidly obese is
rising; 6.6% compared to 2.0% in the previous largest study to
date. A total of 739 (40%, n=1,868) autopsies were carried out
on obese individuals. Obesity specific pathology were included
in death certificates in 0.2% of obese (BMI 30-35), 7.4% of
severely obese (BMI 35-40) and 25.7% of morbidly obese
(BMI>40) individuals. CHD accounted for 26.4% of deaths in
morbidly obese individuals and 20.7% of deaths in those of
ideal BMI. Strikingly, morbidly obese individuals died from CHD
on average nine years earlier (mean age of death 68 years)
compared to those of ideal BMI, mean age of death 77 years
(p=0.000004, 95% CI: 5-13); this effect was not accounted for
by concurrent presence of diabetes or hypertension.
Conclusions:
This study links obesity to earlier death from
CHD and indicates that obesity is under recorded on death
certificates by pathologists.
Biography
Anna Dunnigan studied pre-clinical medicine at the University of Cambridge,
and clinical medicine at the University of Oxford. She is originally from Lon-
don, and presently works as a foundation doctor at Milton Keynes University
Hospital, which is part of the Oxford Deanery. Along with her interests in
pathology, Anna has a strong interest in education, and is currently study-
ing long-distance degree in Medical higher Education in the University of
Dundee. She mainly focuses in patient safety and has undertaken numer-
ous quality improvement projects in this area, presented at both regional
and national level.
annadunnigan@hotmail.co.ukAn analysis of the causes of death identified at autopsy in the
obese population
Anna Dunnigan
1
, Winter L
2
and
Roberts I S D
2
1
Milton Keynes University Hospital, UK
2
John Radcliffe Hospital, UK
Anna Dunnigan et al., RRJMHS 2018
Volume: 7