The relationship between postmortem heart weight and morphometric measurements and body mass index: an investigation of forensic autopsy cases.

The postmortem evaluation of heart weight and morphometric measurements presents challenges, highlighting the need for reliable reference values. This study aimed to establish population-specific data for the Turkish population. A retrospective analysis was performed on autopsy cases aged ≥18 years between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, at the relevant forensic morgue department. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Number Cruncher Statistical System. Of the included cases, 20.2% were female and 79.8% male. The mean age and body mass index were 52.32 ± 20.29 years and 28.34 ± 7.29 kg/m2 in females, and 46.86 ± 17.06 years and 26.54 ± 5.43 kg/m2 in males. Heart weight increased with age up to 80 years in both sexes and was independently associated with body mass index in multivariable regression analysis. The mean heart weight was 507.08 ± 129.12 g in cardiovascular-related deaths and 410.35 ± 128.94 g in other natural deaths. In hearts without detected cardiac pathology, the mean weight was 277.74 g in females and 350.11 g in males. Average ventricular wall thickness was 0.31 cm (right) and 1.27 cm (left). Valve circumferences were larger in males. Multivariate regression analysis revealed moderate explanatory power (R2 = 32.5% in cases with pathology and 48.0% in those without pathology) for heart weight. This study provides population-specific reference data for postmortem heart weight and morphometric parameters within the methodological framework of a retrospective autopsy cohort in the Turkish population. These findings may support forensic autopsy practice, though further studies are needed for validation.