Multiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.

BACKGROUND: Data on long-term trends in mortality are generally unavailable for multiple-cause coding of deaths. We wanted to know whether multiple-cause coding of deaths for myocardial infarction contributes much to the interpretation of death certificate data on mortality rates for this condition...

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Main Authors: Goldacre, M, Roberts, SE, Griffith, M
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2003
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author Goldacre, M
Roberts, SE
Griffith, M
author_facet Goldacre, M
Roberts, SE
Griffith, M
author_sort Goldacre, M
collection OXFORD
description BACKGROUND: Data on long-term trends in mortality are generally unavailable for multiple-cause coding of deaths. We wanted to know whether multiple-cause coding of deaths for myocardial infarction contributes much to the interpretation of death certificate data on mortality rates for this condition. METHODS: We analysed all causes of death on death certificates in the former Oxford health service region from 1979 to 1998. RESULTS: Of 69,333 death certificates that included myocardial infarction as a cause of death, it was the underlying cause of death in 93.6 per cent. The ratio of 'mentions' to 'underlying cause' was broadly similar over the study period, during which time there were substantial falls in mortality rates. There were significant changes to the ratios, associated with timing of changes to coding rules; but their effects were small. The ratio of mentions to underlying cause was similar in men and women and in different age groups. CONCLUSION: The underlying cause of death was a robust and almost complete measure of certified deaths for myocardial infarction.
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spelling oxford-uuid:1873ae46-668c-4c42-bb21-f765529c3b7a2022-03-26T10:43:27ZMultiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:1873ae46-668c-4c42-bb21-f765529c3b7aEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2003Goldacre, MRoberts, SEGriffith, M BACKGROUND: Data on long-term trends in mortality are generally unavailable for multiple-cause coding of deaths. We wanted to know whether multiple-cause coding of deaths for myocardial infarction contributes much to the interpretation of death certificate data on mortality rates for this condition. METHODS: We analysed all causes of death on death certificates in the former Oxford health service region from 1979 to 1998. RESULTS: Of 69,333 death certificates that included myocardial infarction as a cause of death, it was the underlying cause of death in 93.6 per cent. The ratio of 'mentions' to 'underlying cause' was broadly similar over the study period, during which time there were substantial falls in mortality rates. There were significant changes to the ratios, associated with timing of changes to coding rules; but their effects were small. The ratio of mentions to underlying cause was similar in men and women and in different age groups. CONCLUSION: The underlying cause of death was a robust and almost complete measure of certified deaths for myocardial infarction.
spellingShingle Goldacre, M
Roberts, SE
Griffith, M
Multiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.
title Multiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.
title_full Multiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.
title_fullStr Multiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.
title_full_unstemmed Multiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.
title_short Multiple-cause coding of death from myocardial infarction: population-based study of trends in death certificate data.
title_sort multiple cause coding of death from myocardial infarction population based study of trends in death certificate data
work_keys_str_mv AT goldacrem multiplecausecodingofdeathfrommyocardialinfarctionpopulationbasedstudyoftrendsindeathcertificatedata
AT robertsse multiplecausecodingofdeathfrommyocardialinfarctionpopulationbasedstudyoftrendsindeathcertificatedata
AT griffithm multiplecausecodingofdeathfrommyocardialinfarctionpopulationbasedstudyoftrendsindeathcertificatedata