The Data Provided by the Cause of Death Statement

  IMPORTANCE OF DATA FROM CAUSE OF DEATH STATEMENTS
 

Millions of dollars are spent at state and national levels in programs to prevent specific diseases or health problems (such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and injuries) using statistical data from cause-of-death information provided on death certificates by physicians, coroners, and medical examiners.  It is very important that the cause of death information be as accurate and complete as possible.  FAMILIAR STATISTICS FROM THE NATIONAL DATABASE  Just as an example, all physicians are familiar with two indexes of national health that are drawn directly from data gleaned from death certificates:  the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. the 10 leading causes of infant death in the U.S. Accurate identifications of the leading causes of death and assessment of programs intended to improve the national health are drawn directly from cause of death statements on death certificates.   Not only is the cause identified as the primary cause of death important, but additional risk factors are also significant, need to be listed, and are used in planning ways to improve national health care.

 
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Last Revised: 5/3/99