scholarly journals Changes in the quality of cause-of-death statistics in Brazil: garbage codes among registered deaths in 1996–2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth França ◽  
Lenice Harumi Ishitani ◽  
Renato Teixeira ◽  
Bruce B. Duncan ◽  
Fatima Marinho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Registered causes in vital statistics classified as garbage codes (GC) are considered indicators of quality of cause-of-death data. Our aim was to describe temporal changes in this quality in Brazil, and the leading GCs according to levels assembled for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. We also assessed socioeconomic differences in the burden of different levels of GCs at a regional level. Methods We extracted data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System from 1996 to 2016. All three- and four-digit ICD-10 codes considered GC were selected and classified into four categories, according to the GBD study proposal. GC levels 1 and 2 are the most damaging unusable codes, or major GCs. Proportionate distribution of deaths by GC levels according selected variables were performed. Age-standardized mortality rates after correction of underreporting of deaths were calculated to investigate temporal relationships as was the linear association adjusted for completeness between GC rates in states and the Sociodemographic Index (SDI) from the GBD study, for 1996–2005 and 2006–2016. We classified Brazilian states into three classes of development by applying tertiles cutoffs in the SDI state-level estimates. Results Age-standardized mortality rates due to GCs in Brazil decreased from 1996 to 2016, particularly level 1 GCs. The most important GC groups were ill-defined causes (level 1) in 1996, and pneumonia unspecified (level 4) in 2016. At state level, there was a significant inverse association between SDI and the rate of level 1–2 GCs in 1996–2005, but both SDI and completeness had a non-expected significant direct association with levels 3–4. In 2006–2016, states with higher SDIs tended to have lower rates of all types of GCs. Mortality rates due to major GCs decreased in all three SDI classes in 1996–2016, but GC levels 3–4 decreased only in the high SDI category. States classified in the low or medium SDI groups were responsible for the most important decline of major GCs. Conclusion Occurrence of major GCs are associated with socioeconomic determinants over time in Brazil. Their reduction with decreasing disparity in rates between socioeconomic groups indicates progress in reducing inequalities and strengthening cause-of-death statistics in the country.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth França ◽  
Lenice Harumi Ishitani ◽  
Renato Teixeira ◽  
Bruce B. Duncan ◽  
Fatima Marinho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Registered causes in vital statistics classified as garbage codes (GC) are considered indicators of quality of cause-of-death data. Our aim was to describe temporal changes in this quality in Brazil, and the leading GCs according to levels assembled for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. We also assessed socioeconomic differences in the burden of different levels of GCs at a regional level. Methods: We extracted data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System from 1996 to 2016. All three and four digit ICD-10 codes considered as GC were selected and classified into four categories, according to the GBD study proposal. GCs levels 1 and 2 are the most damaging unusable codes, or major GCs. Proportionate distribution of deaths by GC levels according selected variables were performed. Age-standardized mortality rates after correction of underreporting of deaths were calculated to investigate temporal relationships as was the linear association adjusted for completeness between GC rates in states and the Sociodemographic Index (SDI) from the GBD study, for 1996-2005 and 2006-2016. We classified Brazilian states into three classes of development by applying tertiles cutoffs in the SDI state‐level estimates. Results: Age-standardized mortality rates due to GCs in Brazil decreased from 1996 to 2016, particularly level 1 GCs. The most important GC groups were ill-defined causes (level 1) in 1996, and pneumonia unspecified (level 4) in 2016. At state level, there was a significant inverse association between SDI and the rate of level 1-2 GCs in 1996-2005, but both SDI and completeness had a non-expected significant direct association with levels 3-4. In 2006-2016, states with higher SDIs tended to have lower rates of all types of GCs. Mortality rates due to major GCs decreased in all three SDI classes in 1996-2016, but GCs levels 3-4 decreased only in the high SDI category. States classified in the low or medium SDI groups were responsible for the most important decline of major GCs. Conclusion: Occurrence of major GCs are associated with socioeconomic determinants over time in Brazil. Their reduction with decreasing disparity in rates between socioeconomic groups indicates progress in reducing inequalities and strengthening cause-of-death statistics in the country.


Circulation ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 133 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent L. Mendy ◽  
Rodolfo Vargas ◽  
Lamees El-sadek ◽  
Abigail Gamble

Background: Heart disease (HD) mortality has declined in Mississippi over recent decades however it remains as the leading cause of death among Mississippians. Trends in Mississippi HD mortality have not been thoroughly explored. This study examined trends in HD mortality from 1980 through 2013 among Mississippi adults (≥ 25 years) and further assessed trends by race and sex. Methods and Results: Data from Mississippi Vital Statistics (1980 through 2013) were used to calculate age-specific HD mortality rates for Mississippi adults. Cases were identified using underlying cause of death codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), including I00-I09, I11, I13, and I20-I51. Joinpoint software was used to calculate the average annual percent change in HD mortality rates for the overall population and by race, sex, and race and sex. Overall, the age-adjusted HD mortality rates among Mississippi adults decreased by 36.5% between 1980 and 2013 with an average annual percent change of -1.60% (95% CI -2.0 to -1.3). During this period, HD mortality rates decreased annually on average by -1.30% (95% CI -1.98 to -0.69) for black adults; by -1.60% (95% CI -1.74 to -1.46) for white adults; by -1.30% (95% CI -1.5 to -1.1) for all females, and by -1.90% (95% -2.2 to -1.5) for all males. Conclusions: Between 1980 and 2013 a continual decrease in HD mortality among Mississippi adults was observed. Disparities in the magnitude of the decrease in HD mortality existed by race and sex.


Kardiologiia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
O. M. Drapkina ◽  
I. V. Samorodskaya ◽  
D. Sh. Vaisman

Aim: to analyze the quality of completion medical certificates of death (MCD) of residents of the Tula region, in which in 2017 acute and subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) was listed as the underlying cause of death (UCD) or as multiple causes of death (MC).Materials and methods. From the electronic database (DB) of MCD of residents of Tula region for 2017 we selected all MSD in which MI was written down irrespective of a section of MCD. A total of 689 MSD (43.8% men and 56.2% women) were analyzed.Results. Mean age of the deceased was 72.6±11.3 years (men 67.25±0.62; women 76.7±9.8; p<0.001). Multimorbid pathology was registered in 31.5% of the deceased. In 77.9% of cases myocardial infarction was selected as the UCD and in 22.1% – as a complication of other diseases. Among registered MI complications were hemotamponade (24.5%), cardiogenic shock (3.6%), ventricular fibrillation (0.3%), heart failure (50.2%). Complications of MI were not listed in 3.9% of MCD. Analysis of MCD showed that their completion did not comply with established ICD-10 rules and recommendations of Ministry of Health of RF; all lines were filled out only in 1% of completed MCD. Also, problems of determining the initial cause of death when myocardial infarction occurred in the presence of multimorbid pathology were revealed.Conclusion. Mortality analysis using solely UCD leads to decreasing mortality rates from MI, and unsatisfactory quality of filling the MCD decreases the ability to identify MC, that prevents the correction of priorities in the organization of medical care. The revealed problems of coding causes of death require urgent solutions from the professional community of cardiologists, pathologists, and the Ministry of Health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. e005387
Author(s):  
Tim Adair ◽  
Sonja Firth ◽  
Tint Pa Pa Phyo ◽  
Khin Sandar Bo ◽  
Alan D Lopez

IntroductionThe measurement of progress towards many Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and other health goals requires accurate and timely all-cause and cause of death (COD) data. However, existing guidance to countries to calculate these indicators is inadequate for populations with incomplete death registration and poor-quality COD data. We introduce a replicable method to estimate national and subnational cause-specific mortality rates (and hence many such indicators) where death registration is incomplete by integrating data from Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCOD) for hospital deaths with routine verbal autopsy (VA) for community deaths.MethodsThe integration method calculates population-level cause-specific mortality fractions (CSMFs) from the CSMFs of MCCODs and VAs weighted by estimated deaths in hospitals and the community. Estimated deaths are calculated by applying the empirical completeness method to incomplete death registration/reporting. The resultant cause-specific mortality rates are used to estimate SDG Indicator 23: mortality between ages 30 and 70 years from cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. We demonstrate the method using nationally representative data in Myanmar, comprising over 42 000 VAs and 7600 MCCODs.ResultsIn Myanmar in 2019, 89% of deaths were estimated to occur in the community. VAs comprised an estimated 70% of community deaths. Both the proportion of deaths in the community and CSMFs for the four causes increased with older age. We estimated that the probability of dying from any of the four causes between 30 and 70 years was 0.265 for men and 0.216 for women. This indicator is 50% higher if based on CSMFs from the integration of data sources than on MCCOD data from hospitals.ConclusionThis integration method facilitates country authorities to use their data to monitor progress with national and subnational health goals, rather than rely on estimates made by external organisations. The method is particularly relevant given the increasing application of routine VA in country Civil Registration and Vital Statistics systems.


Author(s):  
Catherine Liang ◽  
Emmalin Buajitti ◽  
Laura Rosella

Introduction: Premature mortality (deaths before age 75) is a well-established metric of population health and health system performance. In Canada, underlying differences between provinces/territories present a need for stratified mortality trends. Methods: Using data from the Canadian Vital Statistics Database, a descriptive analysis of sex-specific adult premature deaths over 1992-2015 was conducted by province, census divisions (CD), socioeconomic status (SES), age, and underlying cause of death. Premature mortality rates were calculated as the number of deaths per 100,000 individuals aged 18 to 74, per 8-year era. SES was measured using the income quintile of the neighbourhood of residence. Absolute and relative inequalities were respectively summarized using slope and relative indices of inequality, produced via unadjusted linear regression of the mortality rate on income rank. Results: Premature mortality in Canada declined by 21% for males and 13% for females between 1992-1999 and 2008-2015. The greatest reductions were in Central Canada, while Newfoundland saw notable increases. CD-level improvements appeared mostly in the southern half of Canada. As of 2008-2015, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Nunavut had the highest mortality rates. Low area-level income was associated with higher mortality. SES inequalities grew over time. Newfoundland’s between-quintile differences rose from 1292 to 2389 deaths per 100k males, or 1.33 to 2.12-fold, and 586 to 1586 per 100k females, or 1.24 to 1.74-fold. In 2008-2015, mortality rates of the bottom quintile in Manitoba and Saskatchewan were more than 2.5 times those of the top. Mortality increased with age, and varied regionally. Low mortality in Central Canada and BC, and high mortality in the Territories were consistent across eras and sexes. Cause of death distributions shifted with age and sex, with more external deaths in younger males. Conclusion: Improvements were seen in adult premature mortality rates over time, but were unequal across geographies. Evidence exists for growing socioeconomic disparities in mortality.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S58-S58
Author(s):  
Chitra Ramaswamy ◽  
Emily Westheimer ◽  
Sarah Braunstein

Abstract Background With the prolonged life-span of persons with HIV (PWH) due to anti-retroviral therapy, their cancer burden has increased. Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among PWH. Studying cancer mortality can inform and guide the development of cancer screening and prevention strategies for PWH. Methods We analyzed data for all persons &gt; = 13 years who were diagnosed with HIV from 2001 to 2015 and reported to the New York City (NYC) HIV surveillance registry (HSR). Using the HSR and the underlying cause of death obtained from the NYC vital statistics registry and the National Death Index, we examined age-specific and age-standardized mortality rates from cancer and compared time trends of deaths due to HIV-related8 cancer to deaths from non-HIV-related cancers. Results There were 34,190 deaths reported among 154,688 PWH of whom nearly half (n = 16,804; 49.1%) died due to HIV (excluding HIV-related cancers). Among all deaths, HIV was the leading cause, followed by cancer (both HIV and non-HIV-related) (n = 5,271; 15.4%) and cardiovascular disease (n = 3,724, 10.9%). The top three causes of non-HIV-related cancer deaths were lung cancer (n = 1,040; 19.7%), liver cancer (n = 552; 10.5%), and colorectal cancer (n = 315; 5.6%). Although the mortality rate among PWH decreased over time (24.4 to 13.9 per 1,000 person-years from 2001 to 2015), the proportion of deaths attributable to all cancers increased (10.6% in 2001 to 19.9% in 2015, p &lt; .0001). This increase was driven by non-HIV-related cancers (6.1% of all deaths in 2001 to 15.8% in 2015, p &lt; .0001). The mean age increased from 2001 to 2015 among the dead (46 to 56 years) and among the censored (35 to 49 years). After controlling for demographic factors, transmission risk, and last CD4 count, the hazard ratio for cancer deaths was higher among people who inject drugs (HR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.4–1.7) and those with last CD4 count &lt; 200 (HR = 9.3; 95% CI = 8.3–10.5). Conclusion Although mortality rates are decreasing in PWH, deaths due to non-HIV-related cancers are increasing. The upward trend in the mean age suggests that aging may be contributing to this increase. Routine screening for liver and colon cancers along with smoking cessation may reduce lung, liver and colon cancer deaths. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 3s-3s
Author(s):  
O. Pham ◽  
T. Nguyen ◽  
N. Le

Background: Liver cancer has been leading cancer mortality nationwide in Viet Nam. Aim: The aim was to examine time trends of liver cancer mortality by performing population-based mortality registration in Nghe An province, 2005-2014. Methods: We yearly collected data from all 480 Commune Health Stations from 2005 to 2014 using the designed form of “Mortality Registration” with a guideline of underlying-, immediate, - and contribute cause of death. Five variables were included name, age, sex, date of death and cause of death. Average residents of each commune were also yearly reported. All cases were coded ICD-10, then liver cancer (C22) was derived. Age-standardized rate (ASR) was estimated. Trend of liver cancer was observed by estimated mortality rates ratio and 95% confident interval (MRR) for 5-period of 2005-2006 (reference), 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, adjusted for total mortality rate and proportion of cases with unknown causes of death, for total, subgroup of ages 40 or older, and ages less than 40. Results: Among registered 7,667 cases of liver cancer, there were 855 cases aged less than 40. Mortality rates per 100,000 (ASR) were increased from 37.4 to 52.8 in men and 9.2 to 12.6 in women, from 2005 to 2014, respectively. The increased trends were significantly seen for the subpopulation ages 40 or older only, MRR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.38-1.76 in men and MRR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.36-2.04 in women, all P trend < 0.05. In contrast, the decreased trends were significantly observed for the subpopulation ages less than 40, MRR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97 in men and MRR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.22-0.99 in women, all P trend < 0.05. Conclusion: The significant decline risks of death from liver cancer for the subpopulation ages less than 40 during 2005-2014 might be explained by HBV vaccine nationwide from 1998 to date and reduction of environmental factors induced this cancer sites in improving healthy environments after the war ended in 1975. Key-words: Liver-cancer, population-based mortality registration, Viet Nam, HBV-vaccine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trust Nyondo ◽  
Gisbert Msigwa ◽  
Daniel Cobos ◽  
Gregory Kabadi ◽  
Tumaniel Macha ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Monitoring medically certified causes of death is essential to shape national health policies, track progress to Sustainable Development Goals, and gauge responses to epidemic and pandemic disease. The combination of electronic health information systems with new methods for data quality monitoring can facilitate quality assessments and help target quality improvement. Since 2015, Tanzania has been upgrading its Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system including efforts to improve the availability and quality of mortality data. Methods We used a computer application (ANACONDA v4.01) to assess the quality of medical certification of cause of death (MCCD) and ICD-10 coding for the underlying cause of death for 155,461 deaths from health facilities from 2014 to 2018. From 2018 to 2019, we continued quality analysis for 2690 deaths in one large administrative region 9 months before, and 9 months following MCCD quality improvement interventions. Interventions addressed governance, training, process, and practice. We assessed changes in the levels, distributions, and nature of unusable and insufficiently specified codes, and how these influenced estimates of the leading causes of death. Results 9.7% of expected annual deaths in Tanzania obtained a medically certified cause of death. Of these, 52% of MCCD ICD-10 codes were usable for health policy and planning, with no significant improvement over 5 years. Of certified deaths, 25% had unusable codes, 17% had insufficiently specified codes, and 6% were undetermined causes. Comparing the before and after intervention periods in one Region, codes usable for public health policy purposes improved from 48 to 65% within 1 year and the resulting distortions in the top twenty cause-specific mortality fractions due to unusable causes reduced from 27.4 to 13.5%. Conclusion Data from less than 5% of annual deaths in Tanzania are usable for informing policy. For deaths with medical certification, errors were prevalent in almost half. This constrains capacity to monitor the 15 SDG indicators that require cause-specific mortality. Sustainable quality assurance mechanisms and interventions can result in rapid improvements in the quality of medically certified causes of death. ANACONDA provides an effective means for evaluation of such changes and helps target interventions to remaining weaknesses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (suppl 3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Barbosa de Lima ◽  
Ashley Frederes ◽  
Maria Fatima Marinho ◽  
Carolina Cândida da Cunha ◽  
Tim Adair ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: Reliable cause-of-death statistics are an important source of information on trends and differentials in population health. In Brazil, the Mortality Information System is responsible for compiling cause of death (CoD) data. Despite the success in reducing R-codes ill-defined causes of death, other garbage codes (GC), classified as causes that cannot be the underlying CoD, according to the Global Burden of Disease study, remain a challenge. The Ministry of Health (MoH) aims to decrease the proportion of all GCs, and a pilot study tested a comprehensive strategy to investigate GC deaths that occurred in 2015. Methods: The research was conducted in seven Brazilian cities during five months in 2016: two rural cities, one metropolitan area, and four capitals. For all GCs selected, municipal healthcare workers collected information about the terminal disease from hospital records, autopsies, family health teams, and home investigation. The fieldwork was coordinated at Federal level in partnership with State and municipal teams. Results: Out of 1,242 deaths selected, physicians analyzed the information collected and certified the CoD in 1,055 deaths, resulting in 92.6% of cases having their underlying cause changed to a usable ICD-10 code. Discussion: It is noteworthy the capacity the health teams in the seven cities showed during the implementation of the pilot. Conclusion: After results analysis, the GC investigation protocol was modified, and the implementation scaled up to 60 cities in 2017.


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