Identification of neoplasia, especially hepatoma, as a major cause of mortality in the Southern Highlands.
This study shows that relative to the number of deaths in hospital, the number of patients discharged home to die is high, that the majority of these cases have a malignancy and that the prognosis of these 'home to die' (HTD) patients is accurate. Respiratory disease is the leading cause of death overall in the community no matter what data are included. The inclusion of HTD cases in hospital mortality data reveals that malignant disease is the leading cause of death in adults and the second cause of death overall and that hepatoma is the major malignant disease. The relevance of a hepatitis B vaccination programme for P.N.G. is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D010219:Papua New Guinea