title: [Ill-defined causes of death in the elderly].
abstract: Over one-half of death certificates from elderly people contain ill-defined causes of death. Usually, signs and symptoms rather than causes of death are registered. Electrolyte imbalance, decubitus ulcer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, etc are some of the most frequently quoted conditions. Adequate preventive programs are jeopardized by lack of more precise information regarding the cause of death and relevant associated conditions in the elderly.
authors: Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Cornejo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kirschbaum
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003644:Death Certificates; D003933:Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality
vernacular_title: Causas de muerte mal definidas en senescentes.