Statistical Analysis of Forensic Autopsies in Busan and Gyeongnam: Changes and Characteristics in the Past 10 Years

The cause and manner of death in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions were analyzed using autopsy data performed by the National Forensic Service Busan Institute (NFS BI) for 10 years—from 2014 to 2023. In addition, changes in the number of autopsy cases of elderly individuals aged 65 and older, were analyzed in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions. A total of 6,374 cases were classified, excluding autopsies from the Ulsan area and the Coast Guard, from the NFS BI data. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 3,203 cases (50.3%) were unnatural deaths; 2,031 cases (31.9%) were natural deaths; and 1,140 cases (17.9%) were deaths of unknown cause. Among the unnatural deaths, accidents were the most common at 1,149 cases (18.0%), followed by suicide at 979 cases (15.4%); and homicide at 583 cases (9.1%). Among natural deaths, heart disease was the most common with 764 cases (37.6%), followed by vascular disease with 351 cases (17.3%). The proportion of the population aged 65 or older in Busan and Gyeongnam has been steadily increasing from 13.7% in 2014 to 21.6% in 2023. Accordingly, the number of autopsies on people aged 65 or older has increased from 72 in 2014 to 174 in 2023, and the number of autopsies on people aged 65 or older accounted for one-quarter of the total number of forensic autopsies commissioned by Busan/Gyeongnam, and performed by NFS BI in 2023. Therefore, we plan to introduce emerging issues relating to population aging and geriatric forensic medicine.