The relationship of alcohol to sudden natural death. An epidemiological analysis.

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Abstract
Medical histories, drinking behavior, degree of fatty liver found at autopsy and specific causes of death were studied in 172 sudden natural deaths examined at the Allegheny County Coroner''s Office, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Of the 172 deaths, 16 were attributed to fatty liver as the only major pathological finding; 36 to other causes of death, with significant fatty liver; 42 to other causes without fatty liver; 38 to arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) with fatty liver and 40 to ASHD without fatty liver. The major conclusion was that fatty liver disease in the alcoholic or heavy drinker may be either a primary or secondary cause of death.