NICE, a new cause of death classification for stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Neonatal and Intrauterine Death Classification according to Etiology.
BACKGROUND
Stillbirths and neonatal deaths are often the result of a complicated chain of events. For epidemiological purposes a classification into single cause of death groups is essential. For large-scale studies, a method is needed which enables such grouping based on available register data.


METHODS
A cause of death classification system called NICE is presented. It is hierarchical and is aetiologically orientated. A computerized method is adapted which makes use of data in four central Swedish registries. A validation of the computer method has been made from the medical records on a 10% sample of all stillbirths and neonatally dead infants in Sweden from 1983 to 1990.


RESULTS
The specificity of the computer method is high, sensitivity is less satisfactory for some subgroups. A time trend analysis illustrates the usefulness of the classification system and shows a decline with time for two groups: placental abruption and obstetric complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The NICE classification system fulfils the criteria of an aetiologically orientated classification system which can be used in a computerized environment.
Winbo
I G
IG
Department of Pediatrics, Umeå University, Sweden.
Serenius
F H
FH
Dahlquist
G G
GG
Källén
B A
BA
D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology