Short communication: solitary deaths by suffocation from death certificates, 2011-2015

Background: Solitary deaths are very worth preventing in terms of financial and administrative points, and Japan is at the forefront of various problems by solitary deaths. We used statistical data from Yokohama City to ascertain the risks of solitary deaths by suffocation. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult deaths due to suffocation between January 2011 and December 2015. Data were collected from death certificates from the Medical Care Bureau of Yokohama City. Non-transported deaths were considered solitary deaths. Results: 869 suffocation deaths were divided into “nontransported” (n=187) and “emergency transported” (n=682) groups, according to the place of death. Pearson’s chi-square (χ 2) test revealed significant differences in sex and marital status. Logistic regression analysis showed that the female sex and an unmarried marital status were associated with nontransported suffocation death. Conclusions: Being unmarried and female sex (both risk factors for living alone) were independent risk factors for solitary suffocation death in Yokohama City. Due to the quick process of suffocation, living alone might be a greater risk for solitary suffocation death than social participation, contrary to the risk for overall solitary deaths.