TAJ December 2022; Volume 35 Number-2 ISSN 1019-8555
The Journal of
Teachers Association
RMC, Rajshahi
Original Article
A Statistical Overview of Death due to Alcohol Poisoning in the Rajshahi Region
1 2 3 4 5
Md. Kafil Uddin, Zaman Nishat Royhan, Shirin Sumaiya, Md. Alvi Sadat, Nibedita Chatterjee
Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of death due to alcohol poisoning is increasing at an alarming rate
in Bangladesh. However, there is a lack of actual statistics regarding death cases due to alcohol
poisoning in the Rajshahi region. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the recent
statistical report of death cases due to alcohol poisoning in the Rajshahi region.
Methods: The Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajshahi Medical College,
Rajshahi, Bangladesh, conducted this statistical study, reporting 29 deaths between January
2019 and September 2021. The data was collected from the documents stored in the Department
of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology.
Results: This study elucidates that the incidence of death due to alcohol poisoning is increasing
over time. Ninety-three percent of victims were male. The maximum number of deaths (34.5%)
due to alcohol poisoning was found in people between 21 and 30 years old. The maximum
number of victims (27.59%) in the profession were students. Around two-thirds of the deceased
were married. Only 24% of victims were other than Islam religion.
Conclusion: As the rate of death due to alcohol poisoning increases over time, it might indicate
an increasing number of alcohol consumers. Besides, the lack of consciousness is associated
with unwanted death.
Keywords: Alcohol, Poisoning, Unnatural death.
TAJ 2022; 35: No-2: 119-124
Introduction the liver through the alcohol dehydrogenase
enzyme. But, acute toxicity starts in the central
Alcohol intake is the cause of more than 200
nervous system by enchasing central nervous
illnesses in human.1, 2 Annually, 3.3 million people
system (CNS) inhibition and reducing excitation
die worldwide due to alcohol consumption.1, 2
simultaneously.4 Gamma-aminobutyric acid
Throughout the world, alcohol consumption
(GABA), the primary CNS inhibitory
accounts for 5.9% of all deaths, much more than
neurotransmitter, drags to its receptors allowing
deaths caused by human immunodeficiency virus
entry of Cl- ion into the cell, thus reducing cellular
infection (2.8%) and tuberculosis (1.7%).1 World
excitability.4 Sedation, cognitive dysfunction, and
Health Organization (WHO) defined alcohol
decreased coordination arise from binding alcohol
consumption as one of the top four risk factors for
with GABA receptors and activating the inhibitory
non-communicable diseases.3
cascade.4
Alcohol is absorbed through the proximal
gastrointestinal tract, and its metabolism starts in
1 Associate Professor (C.C.), Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
2 Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
3 Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
4 Medical Officer, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
5 Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
TAJ December 2022; Volume 35 Number-2 120
Multiple organ systems can be affected by alcohol. consumption and its adverse effects on
Both acute and chronic use of alcohol can induce Bangladesh's population. Nonetheless, there is no
complications. The cardiovascular system is one epidemiological study on alcohol consumption
of the vulnerable systems to both acute and patterns in this country.9, 10 Moreover, there is a
chronic injury. Acutely, alcohol is reported to lack of statistical reports on annual death due to
precipitate dysrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, alcohol poisoning in Bangladesh. Thus, this study
supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular was designed aiming to explore the statistics of
tachycardia and can lead to lethal arrhythmias in death due to alcohol poisoning in the Rajshahi
patients with myocardial infarction.4 Besides, region.
contractile dysfunction leads to heart failure,
Materials and Methods
stroke, and increased risk of cardiac death caused
by acute alcohol poisoning. This descriptive study was conducted in the
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology,
Bangladesh is a country where diverse ethnicity,
Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
culture, and religion exist. Although it is generally
The accumulated study subject includes only
accepted that alcohol consumption and related
deaths due to acute alcohol poisoning from
issues are low due to religious and social
January 2019 to September 2021. A total of 29
background, authorized barriers to restricting
study subject was included in this study. All of the
alcohol consumption by any particular group in
information presented in the article were
this country do not exist.5-7 The population of this
accumulated from the corresponding document of
country is made up of Bengali communities and
the dead body, which was submitted to the
ethnic tribal groups. Most of them are Muslims,
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
and the rest are Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians.
8 for autopsy. Statistical analyses (percentage
According to statistics, the alcohol intake rate
calculation) and the graph was done using
was assessed to be markedly low compared to the
Microsoft Excel (version 2007).
global average and western countries.3 However,
as far as we know, there is no systematic
epidemiological assessment of alcohol
Results
Distribution of total death cases according to year
Among 29 deaths from alcohol poisoning from January 2019 to September 2021, 7 died in 2019 (Figure
I). Later, the death cases increased to 10 in 2020 (Figure I). But, in 2021, there were 12 death cases in
only 9 months (Figure I).
Figure I: Distribution of total death cases according to year.
121 TAJ December 2022; Volume 35 Number-2
Distribution of total death cases according to sex
Among 29 victims, 27 (93%) were male, and only 2 (7%) were female (Figure II).
Figure II: Distribution of total death cases according to sex.
Distribution of total death cases according to age class
According to the age class presented in Table 1, the maximum number of victims, 10 (34.5%), was
between 21 and 30 years old. The lowest number of the victim was observed in people who are aged more
than 50 years old. However, the second highest number of victims (8, 27.6%) was between 31 and 40
years. Five (17.2%) victims were between 41 and 50. There were 4 (13.8%) young (between 11 and 20)
victims.
Table 1: Distribution of total death cases according to age.
Age (years) Frequency Percentage
11-20 4 13.8
21-30 10 34.5
31-40 8 27.6
41-50 5 17.2
51-60 1 3.4
61-70 1 3.4
Distribution of total death cases according to professional status
As we found, the maximum number (8, 27.59%) of victims were a student. Among eight students, one
was a female. Businessmen and farmers contributed 13.79% individually. 10.34% of victims had a job in
a reputed organization. One housewife and a male victim without any profession contributed 3.45% each.
The rest of the 27.59% comprised different types of professions, including butcher, confectioner,
goldsmith, painter, sweeper, salesman, and village doctor.
TAJ December 2022; Volume 35 Number-2 122
Table 2: Distribution of total death cases according to the profession.
Categories Frequency Percentage
Student 8 27.59
Businessman 4 13.79
Farmer 4 13.79
Job 3 10.34
Housewife 1 3.45
Unemployed 1 3.45
Others (butcher, confectioner, goldsmith, painter, sweeper, 8 27.59
salesman, village doctor)
Distribution of total death cases according to marital status
Most of the victims (19, 66%) were married, whereas 10 (34%) victims were single (Figure III).
Figure III: Distribution of total death cases according to marital status.
Distribution of total death cases according to religion
The maximum number of victims (76%) was Muslim (Figure IV). The percentage of victims from Hindu
and Christian was 21% and 3%, respectively (Figure IV).
Figure IV: Distribution of total death cases according to religion.
123 TAJ December 2022; Volume 35 Number-2
Moreover, 76% of victims were Muslim, Hindus
Discussion
were 21%, and Christians were 3%. This is
In Bangladesh, the prevalence of alcohol probably because Bangladesh is a Muslim-
consumers in general has been estimated at less majority country.
than 2%.11 This estimation agrees with the data
In Bangladesh, due to restrictions in accessibility
regarding alcohol consumption percentage in
to and inability to afford ethyl alcohol, people
developing countries, particularly in the South
consume methanol-contaminated alcoholic drinks
East Asia region, reported by WHO. 12
or industrial methylated spirits (95% ethanol + 5%
The alcohol consumption rate in Bangladesh has methanol).11, 18. However, these compositions are
been increasing over time.11 Our data regarding highly detrimental, causing severe poisoning and
increased death due to alcohol poisoning presented leading to death.
in Figure 1may reflect that the alcohol
Conclusion
consumption rate is increasing. However,
estimating the actual amount of alcohol usage is The data presented in our report shows an
difficult because of many factors including increasing death rate due to alcohol poisoning.
increased domestic production, the increased sum Thus, training people working in healthcare
of permits issued for drinking, and greater amount centers and making awareness in general people is
of confiscations of illegal liquor. 11 crucial to prevent death from alcohol poisoning.
Besides, controlling measure is also needed in
The rate of alcohol consumption in Bangladesh is
term of the easy availability of industrial alcohol.
higher in young aged individuals.11, 13. According
to our data, most of the victims were between 20 Conflict of interest: None declared
and 40 years old. In the USA, the maximum death
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All correspondence to
Md. Kafil Uddin
Assistant Professor & Head
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
Rajshahi Medical College
E-mail: mdkafiluddin1982rmc@[Link]
