Recording of diabetes on death certificates. Has it improved?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the recording of diabetes on death certificates improved from 1986 to 1993.


METHODS
Comparison of two National Mortality Follow-back Surveys that selected independent samples of death certificates with the purpose of obtaining information from informants about the decedents.


RESULTS
The recording of diabetes on death certificates did not improve from 1986 to 1993.


CONCLUSIONS
Periodic monitoring of the accuracy of death certificates is essential for proper interpretation of mortality statistics which are routinely used to describe the burden of diabetes in our society.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS K-26, 4770 Buford Hwy., NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. JXW6@CDC.GOV
J C
JC
Will
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F
Vinicor
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J
Stevenson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003644:Death Certificates; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000401:mortality*; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology