FATAL PULMONARY-EMBOLISM - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF AUTOPSY INCIDENCE IN HONG-KONG AND CARDIFF, WALES

All autopsy reports from 1990-1994 inclusive of the Department of Path ology, University of Hong Kong and the Wales Institute of Forensic Med icine were examined and cases of death due to massive pulmonary emboli sm were noted. The incidence of this condition was calculated and foun d to be insignificantly lower in the Hong Kong series than the Welsh s eries by statistical analysis, both in the crude incidence in all auto psies and when correcting for different case mixes in the two location s. The majority of cases in both locations were in the over-60 age gro up. The study helps refute the longstanding belief among Hong Kong phy sicians that fatal massive pulmonary embolism is rare in Hong Kong (wi th approximately 98% Chinese population) in comparison with a predomin antly Caucasian population. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.