Standard methods of categorizing leading causes of death based on crude mortality rates in the general population inadequately reflect the leading causes of death in specific age subsets, as is the case in deaths to children. To describe in detail the mortality among Louisiana residents 1-14 years of age, 10 years (1989-1998) of mortality data (N=3563) were examined by demographic breakdowns, aggregated over time, ranked according to methodology of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and expressed in years of productive life lost and potential life lost. A large percentage (42.6%) of deaths was attributable to “Accidents and Adverse Effects,” and a large percentage (15.5%) of deaths was classified as “Residual.” Total deaths accounted for 208,228 years of productive life lost and 240,375 years of potential life lost. Accidental deaths were re-categorized through various alternative classifications based on ICD-9 aggregates and CDC recommendations and then re-entered into the leading causes of death. Residual deaths were re-categorized by ICD-9 aggregates, with high frequencies re-entered into the leading causes of death. Results showed substantial mortality attributable to motor vehicle accidents, drowning, and fire. Death attributed to infantile cerebral palsy (ICD-9 343) was found to be the sixth leading cause among children, were it to be added to the original listing of leading causes based on NCHS methodology. The results indicate the importance of sub-classification schemes for accidental deaths in children and the necessity of including infantile cerebral palsy as a category separate from residual.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe leading causes of childhood death under at least two disease classification schemes. 2. Identify potential leading causes of childhood death within residual categories. 3. Compare differential results among separate classification schemes
Keywords: Children, Death
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.