Afin d'effectuer les classements et les analyses portant sur la mortalité selon la cause médicale de décès, il est d'usage d'utiliser uniquement la cause initiale de décès, qui représente la maladie ou le traumatisme ayant initié la séquence d'événements menant au décès. Cette méthode comporte plusieurs limites. L'analyse de causes multiples, qui a la qualité d'utiliser toutes les causes citées sur le certificat de décès, serait particulièrement indiquée pour mieux expliquer la mortalité puisque les décès sont souvent attribuables à plusieurs processus morbides concurrents. L'analyse des causes multiples de décès chez les personnes âgées au Québec pour les années 2000-2004 permet d'identifier plusieurs conditions ayant contribué au décès, mais n'ayant toutefois pas été sélectionnées comme cause ayant initié le processus morbide. C'est particulièrement le cas de l'hypertension, de l'athérosclérose, de la septicémie, de la grippe et pneumonie, du diabète sucré et de la néphrite, syndrome néphrotique et néphropathie. Cette recherche démontre donc l'importance de la prise en compte des causes multiples afin de dresser un portrait plus juste de la mortalité québécoise aux âges où se concentrent principalement les décès que le permet l'analyse de la cause initiale seule. / To this day, mortality analysis has primarily focused on the underlying cause of death which represents the disease or injury which initiated the sequence of morbid events leading to the death. But since death is due to a complex process, especially at advanced ages, analysis based solely on this concept has its limitations and some causes are more likely to be identified as the underlying cause than others. Selecting only one cause per death may influence the relative importance of the various causes of death. Multiple causes of death statistics provide a more complete view of mortality patterns. The analysis of multiple causes of death among the elderly in Quebec for 2000-2004 identifies certain conditions that contributed to death, but have not been selected as the cause that initiated the disease process. This is particularly the case of hypertension, atherosclerosis, sepsis, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis. This research therefore demonstrates the importance of taking into account multiple causes in order to provide a more accurate portrait of Quebec's mortality at older ages that allows analysis of the underlying cause alone.

The study and practice of epidemiology and public health benefit from the use of mortality statistics, such as mortality rates, which are frequently used as key health indicators. Furthermore, multiple causes of death (MCOD) data offer important information that could not possibly be gathered from other mortality data. This study aimed to describe the interrelationships between various causes of death in the United States in order to improve the understanding of the coexistence of MCOD and thereby improve public health and enhance longevity. The social support theory was used as a framework, and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the coexistence of MCOD in approximately 80 million death cases across the United States from 1959 to 2005. The findings showed that in the United States, there is a statistically significant relationship between the number of coexisting MCOD, race, education, and the state of residence. Furthermore, age, gender, and marital status statistically influence the average number of coexisting MCOD. The results offer insights into how the number of coexisting MCOD vary across the United States, races, education levels, gender, age, and marital status and lay a foundation for further investigation into what people are dying from. The results have the long-term potential of helping public health practitioners identify individuals or communities that are at higher risks of death from a number of coexisting MCOD such that actions could be taken to lower the risks to improve people's wellbeing, enhance longevity, and contribute to positive social change.

A elevada frequência de óbitos por causas mal definidas e por diagnósticos incompletos compromete a validade de indicadores de mortalidade por causas, constituindo obstáculo para a alocação racional dos recursos de saúde com base em perfil epidemiológico. O presente trabalho avalia a qualidade da informação da causa básica de morte na região do Médio Paraíba, estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, nos anos de 2005 a 2009 para toda a população. Os dados provieram do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM) disponibilizados pelo DATASUS/MS. A análise baseou-se em dois indicadores de mortalidade proporcional, por causas mal definidas (CMD - todos os óbitos cuja causa básica esteja incluída no capítulo XVIII da CID-10) e por diagnósticos incompletos (DI), segundo classificação apresentada no Projeto Carga de Doença do Brasil, 2002. As associações entre a qualidade da informação e variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas e relacionadas à ocorrência do óbito foram investigadas por meio do cálculo das razões de chances de mortes por CMD e por DI, em relação às demais causas de morte. Observou-se na região do Médio Paraíba uma proporção de CMD de 4,54% no período de 2005 a 2009. A proporção de diagnósticos incompletos na região do Médio Paraíba no mesmo período mostrou-se elevada (20,59%). Somados os óbitos por CMD e DI na região do Médio Paraíba no quinquênio avaliado, chega-se a uma proporção de causas inadequadamente definidas (25,13%) bem acima do valor mediano de 12% estimado para a população mundial. As chances de CMD e DI decrescem quanto maior o grau de instrução. Quanto à variável raça, os óbitos de indivíduos da raça negra apresentaram maiores chances de ter CMD. Entre os óbitos de indivíduos de cor branca observaram-se maiores chances de constar um DI como causa básica. Nos óbitos sem assistência médica as chances de CMD e DI foram superiores em relação aos óbitos com assistência. Os óbitos em unidade hospitalar apresentaram menores chances de CMD e maiores chances de DI. As variáveis ignoradas ou não informadas apresentaram-se associadas a maiores chances de CMD e DI. Os resultados sugerem que na região do Médio Paraíba a qualidade dos dados de mortalidade no que concerne CMD está bem superior à nacional, assemelhando-se aos valores dos países desenvolvidos. Ainda assim, a proporção de causas residuais encontra-se bastante elevada, evidenciando que não obstante a expressiva melhora do SIM, persistem limitações que restringem a utilização mais ampla do sistema e impedem que os avanços nas políticas e programas na área da saúde sejam maiores. / A high frequency of deaths due to ill-defined causes and incomplete diagnoses compromise the validity of cause specific mortality indicators, constituting an obstacle to the rational allocation of health resources based on epidemiological profile. This study evaluates the quality of information regarding the underlying cause of death in the Médio Paraíba region, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the years 2005 to 2009 for the entire population. Data were obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM) provided by DATASUS / MS. The analysis was based on two indicators of proportional mortality, the proportion of deaths due to ill-defined causes (IDC - Chapter XVIII, ICD-10) and incomplete diagnosis (ID) according to the classification presented in the Burden of Disease Project in Brazil, 2002. The association between quality of information of the underlying cause of death and demographic, socioeconomic and related to the occurrence of deaths covariates was assessed by calculating odds ratios of deaths due to IDC and ID in relation to the remaining causes of death. Proportional mortality due to IDC in the Médio Paraíba was found to be 4.54% in the period 2005-2009, values similar to those expected in developed countries. However, following a national trend, the proportion of incomplete diagnosis in the Médio Paraíba region, in the same period was high (20.59%). Together, the proportions of deaths from IDC and ID in the Médio Paraíba region in the quinquenium from 2005 to 2009, reached 25.13%, above the median value of 12% estimated for the world population. The odds of deaths due to IDC and ID decreased at higher levels of education. As for the variable race, the deaths of the black subjects had higher odds of having IDC. Deaths of white individuals were more likely to be listed as the underlying cause ID. Among deaths without medical assistance chances of IDC and ID were higher in relation to deaths with assistance. The deaths in hospital had lower odds of IDC and greater chances of ID. The variables had ignored or not reported were associated with higher odds of IDC and ID. The results suggest that in the Médio Paraíba quality of mortality data regarding IDC is well above the national level, resembling the values of developed countries. Still, the proportion of residual causes is quite high, showing that despite the significant improvement of SIM persist limitations that restrict the wider use of the system and prevent that advances policies and programs in health are greater.

A elevada frequência de óbitos por causas mal definidas e por diagnósticos incompletos compromete a validade de indicadores de mortalidade por causas, constituindo obstáculo para a alocação racional dos recursos de saúde com base em perfil epidemiológico. O presente trabalho avalia a qualidade da informação da causa básica de morte na região do Médio Paraíba, estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, nos anos de 2005 a 2009 para toda a população. Os dados provieram do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM) disponibilizados pelo DATASUS/MS. A análise baseou-se em dois indicadores de mortalidade proporcional, por causas mal definidas (CMD - todos os óbitos cuja causa básica esteja incluída no capítulo XVIII da CID-10) e por diagnósticos incompletos (DI), segundo classificação apresentada no Projeto Carga de Doença do Brasil, 2002. As associações entre a qualidade da informação e variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas e relacionadas à ocorrência do óbito foram investigadas por meio do cálculo das razões de chances de mortes por CMD e por DI, em relação às demais causas de morte. Observou-se na região do Médio Paraíba uma proporção de CMD de 4,54% no período de 2005 a 2009. A proporção de diagnósticos incompletos na região do Médio Paraíba no mesmo período mostrou-se elevada (20,59%). Somados os óbitos por CMD e DI na região do Médio Paraíba no quinquênio avaliado, chega-se a uma proporção de causas inadequadamente definidas (25,13%) bem acima do valor mediano de 12% estimado para a população mundial. As chances de CMD e DI decrescem quanto maior o grau de instrução. Quanto à variável raça, os óbitos de indivíduos da raça negra apresentaram maiores chances de ter CMD. Entre os óbitos de indivíduos de cor branca observaram-se maiores chances de constar um DI como causa básica. Nos óbitos sem assistência médica as chances de CMD e DI foram superiores em relação aos óbitos com assistência. Os óbitos em unidade hospitalar apresentaram menores chances de CMD e maiores chances de DI. As variáveis ignoradas ou não informadas apresentaram-se associadas a maiores chances de CMD e DI. Os resultados sugerem que na região do Médio Paraíba a qualidade dos dados de mortalidade no que concerne CMD está bem superior à nacional, assemelhando-se aos valores dos países desenvolvidos. Ainda assim, a proporção de causas residuais encontra-se bastante elevada, evidenciando que não obstante a expressiva melhora do SIM, persistem limitações que restringem a utilização mais ampla do sistema e impedem que os avanços nas políticas e programas na área da saúde sejam maiores. / A high frequency of deaths due to ill-defined causes and incomplete diagnoses compromise the validity of cause specific mortality indicators, constituting an obstacle to the rational allocation of health resources based on epidemiological profile. This study evaluates the quality of information regarding the underlying cause of death in the Médio Paraíba region, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the years 2005 to 2009 for the entire population. Data were obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM) provided by DATASUS / MS. The analysis was based on two indicators of proportional mortality, the proportion of deaths due to ill-defined causes (IDC - Chapter XVIII, ICD-10) and incomplete diagnosis (ID) according to the classification presented in the Burden of Disease Project in Brazil, 2002. The association between quality of information of the underlying cause of death and demographic, socioeconomic and related to the occurrence of deaths covariates was assessed by calculating odds ratios of deaths due to IDC and ID in relation to the remaining causes of death. Proportional mortality due to IDC in the Médio Paraíba was found to be 4.54% in the period 2005-2009, values similar to those expected in developed countries. However, following a national trend, the proportion of incomplete diagnosis in the Médio Paraíba region, in the same period was high (20.59%). Together, the proportions of deaths from IDC and ID in the Médio Paraíba region in the quinquenium from 2005 to 2009, reached 25.13%, above the median value of 12% estimated for the world population. The odds of deaths due to IDC and ID decreased at higher levels of education. As for the variable race, the deaths of the black subjects had higher odds of having IDC. Deaths of white individuals were more likely to be listed as the underlying cause ID. Among deaths without medical assistance chances of IDC and ID were higher in relation to deaths with assistance. The deaths in hospital had lower odds of IDC and greater chances of ID. The variables had ignored or not reported were associated with higher odds of IDC and ID. The results suggest that in the Médio Paraíba quality of mortality data regarding IDC is well above the national level, resembling the values of developed countries. Still, the proportion of residual causes is quite high, showing that despite the significant improvement of SIM persist limitations that restrict the wider use of the system and prevent that advances policies and programs in health are greater.