Table 1.
Characteristics of 13 included studies
| Study and Year of Publication | Country | Median year when autopsies were performed | Study Population | Number of Autopsies Examined | Consecutive | Median age at Death, range(years) | Female (%) | Sources of funding and Conflicts of Interest (COI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berezowska 2021(32) | Switzerland | 2017 | Hospital | 189 | Yes | 69, 26–104 | 63 (50) | No external funding. No COI declared. |
| Burrows 1975(26) | USA | 1973 | Hospital | 252 | NS | NS (inclusion of adults only) | NS | NS |
| Gezelius. 1988(16) | Sweden | 1982 | Forensic | 7020 | Yes | Median age not specified. Mean age for men 55 years +/- 20 years SD. Mean age for women 58 years +/- 21 years SD | NS | NS |
| Hudak 2022 (33, 34) | Hungary | 1994** | Stroke | 534 | Yes | Median age not specified. Mean age 70.4 +/- 12.6 years SD (adults only included)** | 251 (47) | National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00048 (Stay Alive), ELKH-DE Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Research Group. No COI declared. |
| Imaida 1997 (37) | Japan | 1988 | Hospital | 871 | NS | Estimated median 82, 48 to 100+ | 510 (59) | Grant in aid for cancer research from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan. Grant from the Society of Promotion of Toxicologic Pathology. COI NS. |
| Ishii 1979 (38, 39) | Japan | 1966 | NS | 1366 | NS | Estimated median 67, 65+ | 432 (35) | NS |
| Murphy 1977 (27) | USA | 1977* | Forensic | 1300 | Yes | NS | NS | NS |
| Rosenblatt 1973 (28) | USA | 1966 | Hospital | 466 | NS | NS | NS | NS |
| Sclare 1991(35) | Scotland | 1979* (based on 24-year period and date published) | Hospital | 143 | No | NS, 90–100 years old | 91 (64) | NS |
| Sens 2009 (29) | USA | 2009 (date published)* | Majority of cases forensic | 412 | NS | NS. Mean age 62 years for unsuspected cancers. | 155 (38) | NS |
| Stanta 1997 (36) | Italy | 1967 (based on 20-year time frame and publication 1997)* | General, older population | 267 | No | NS, 95–106 | 214 (80) | NS |
| Suen 1974 (30) | USA | 1965 | Hospital | 3535 | Yes | Estimated median 70, 66–107 | 1693 (48) | NS |
| Torbenson 2001 (31) | USA | 1989 | Transplant | 375 | Yes | NS. Mean age 46, SD 11 years | 158 (42) | NS |
*Estimated based on stated timeframe or year of publication if not otherwise stated
** Confirmed with authors
NS = not specified