title: [Epidemiological profile of deaths after the 2010 earthquake in Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  On February 27, 2010 a powerful earthquake followed by a tsunami stroke Chile. The study of mortality during this emergency can provide important public health information.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the main characteristics of people who died during the earthquake and the following three months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional analysis of death records databases obtained from Department of Health Statistics and Information of the Ministry of Health and the Coroner office.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Until May 25,2010, 505 corpses were completely identified. Seventy two of these corresponded to people aged 80 years or more. The higher age adjusted death rates per 100,000 inhabitants were observed among subjects aged more than 80 years and those aged 70 to 79 years (22.6 and 7.7 respectively). The higher rates of deaths were observed in regions where the earthquake had a higher intensity and coastal regions affected by the tsunami. The causes of death were trauma in 75% of cases and drowning in 25%. There was no association between the Mercalli scale of earthquake intensity and rates of death. Among deceased subjects, there was a concentration of unemployed, under educated and low socioeconomic status subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the earthquake, the higher rates of deaths occurred among older people and in the region of the epicenter of the earthquake. Most deaths were due to trauma.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile. jlastra@unab.cl
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lastra T
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guzmán C
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conejeros R
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suárez V
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chávez F
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003644:Death Certificates; D004190:Disasters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055866:Earthquakes / Q000401:mortality*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D057192:Tsunamis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult