3303.0 - Causes of Death, Australia, 2009 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/05/2011   
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TECHNICAL NOTE CAUSES OF DEATH REVISIONS


TECHNICAL NOTE CAUSES OF DEATH REVSIONS

OVERVIEW

1 All coroner certified deaths registered after 1 January 2007 are now subject to a revisions process. For information on the revisions process see Explanatory Notes 28-32 for further information.

2 This technical note outlines the impact of the revisions process on 2007 data (where two years of revisions have been conducted) and 2008 data (where revisions have been conducted for one year).


2007 REGISTRATION YEAR

3 Table 1 shows the impact of the revisions on the 2007 data at the ICD-10 chapter level as the data has moved from being preliminary through to revised and then final. ICD-10 chapters most notably impacted through the full revisions process were:

  • Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99) - reduction of 879 deaths
  • External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98) - increase of 337 deaths
  • Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) - increase of 332 deaths.

TABLE 1: Causes of Death Revisions (Preliminary, Revised, Final) - by ICD-10 chapter: 2007

Preliminary
Revised
Final
Change (preliminary to final)
Change (Preliminary to Final)
no
no
no
no
%

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
1 858
1 860
1 857
-1
-0.1
Neoplasms (C00-D48)
40 287
40 305
40 331
44
0.1
Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism (D50-D89)
479
480
483
4
0.8
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90)
5 355
5 367
5 380
25
0.5
Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99)
5 715
5 716
5 693
-22
-0.4
Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99)
5 467
5 474
5 485
18
0.3
Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
46 626
46 821
46 958
332
0.7
Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
11 577
11 596
11 623
46
0.4
Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K93)
4 760
4 789
4 804
44
0.9
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99)
362
363
364
2
0.6
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
1 091
1 091
1 105
14
1.3
Diseases of the genitourinary system (N00-N99)
3 324
3 327
3 331
7
0.2
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)
578
585
587
9
1.6
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
574
582
595
21
3.7
Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
1 895
1 419
1 016
-879
-46.4
External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)
7 893
8 066
8 230
337
4.3
Total(a)
137 854
137 854
137 854
-
-

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Includes deaths due to Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59), Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95) and Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (O00-O99)


4 The reduction in the number of deaths assigned to Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99) is a positive outcome from the revisions process. This reflects how additional information that has become available after the preliminary data has been released has assisted coders in assigning a more specific underlying cause of death. The increase in deaths assigned to External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98) and Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) are also expected as these make up the majority (75.6%) of all coroner certified deaths.

5 Table 2 provides more detail in relation to changes in data associated with the revisions process concerning selected causes from the External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98) and Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99) chapters.

6 The number of deaths in 2007 due to the following selected causes notably reduced as a result of the revisions process:
  • Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality (877 deaths)
  • Event of undetermined intent (726 deaths)
  • Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors (114 deaths).

7 The number of deaths in 2007 due to the following selected causes notably increased as a result of the revisions process:
  • Intentional self-harm (347 deaths)
  • Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances (188 deaths)
  • Car occupant injured in transport accident (148 deaths)
  • Falls (147 deaths)
  • Other land transport accidents (60 deaths)
  • Assault (54 deaths).

Table 2: Selected Causes of Death Revisions (Preliminary, Revised, Final): 2007

Preliminary
Revised
Final
Change (preliminary to final)
Change (Preliminary to Final)
no
no
no
no
%

Sudden infant death syndrome (R95)
71
83
82
11
15.5
Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality (R99)
1 287
802
410
-877
-68.1
Pedestrian injured in transport accident (V01-V09)
182
210
231
49
26.9
Pedal cyclist injured in transport accident (V10-V19)
34
34
45
11
32.4
Motorcycle rider injured in transport accident (V20-V29)
184
201
230
46
25.0
Car occupant injured in transport accident (V40-V49)
710
756
858
148
20.8
Occupant of pick-up truck or van injured in transport accident (V50-V59)
53
61
74
21
39.6
Occupant of heavy transport vehicle injured in transport accident (V60-V69)
32
37
50
18
56.3
Other land transport accidents (V80-V89)
71
76
131
60
84.5
Water transport accidents (V90-V94)
31
32
36
5
16.1
Air and space transport accidents (V95-V97)
36
42
53
17
47.2
Falls (W00-W19)
1 190
1 223
1 337
147
12.4
Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (W20-W49)
82
89
107
25
30.5
Accidental drowning and submersion (W65-W74)
183
186
191
8
4.4
Other accidental threats to breathing (W75-W84)
220
222
229
9
4.1
Exposure to electric current, radiation and extreme ambient air temperature and pressure (W85-W99)
15
19
20
5
33.3
Exposure to smoke, fire and flames (X00-X09)
58
64
72
14
24.1
Exposure to forces of nature (X30-X39)
52
54
55
3
5.8
Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances (X40-X49)
575
645
763
188
32.7
Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors (X58-X59)
628
617
514
-114
-18.2
Intentional self-harm (X60-X84)(a)
1 880
2 053
2 227
347
18.5
Assault (X85-Y09)
162
192
216
54
33.3
Event of undetermined intent (Y10-Y34)
1 089
829
363
-726
-66.7
Drugs, medicaments and biological substances causing adverse effects in therapeutic use (Y40-Y59)
59
59
60
1
1.7
Surgical and other medical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of the patient, or of later complication, without mention of misadventure at the time of the procedure (Y83-Y84)
187
184
183
-4
-2.1
Sequelae of external causes of morbidity and mortality (Y85-Y89)
140
139
143
3
2.1

(a) Care needs to be taken in interpreting figures relating to suicide. See Explanatory Notes 80-83.


8 The revisions process has increased the specificity of coding in relation to mechanism and intent. This is demonstrated by reductions in the number of deaths categorised using "other" type codes and increases in deaths with more specific mechanism codes. There has also been a reduction in the number of deaths with undetermined intent and a commensurate increase in the number of deaths coded as accidental, intentional self-harm and assault.


2008 REGISTRATION YEAR

9 Compared to 2007, the revisions process has had a smaller impact on the 2008 data. This is considered to be primarily due to improved specificity of 2008 preliminary coding compared with 2007 preliminary coding, see Explanatory Notes 28-32 for further information. It is expected that final revisions on the 2008 data will have further impact as coroners investigate and close more cases.

10 Table 3 shows the impact of the revisions on the 2008 data at the ICD-10 chapter level as the data has moved from being preliminary to revised. The largest change is a decrease of 86 deaths attributed to Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

TABLE 3: Causes of Death Revisions (Preliminary, Revised) - by ICD-10 chapter: 2008

Preliminary
Revised
Change (Preliminary to Revised)
Change (Preliminary to Revised)
no
no
no
%

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
1 935
1 966
31
1.6
Neoplasms (C00-D48)
42 418
42 421
3
-
Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism (D50-D89)
503
503
-
-
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90)
5 900
5 899
-1
-
Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99)
6 406
6 408
2
-
Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99)
5 961
5 971
10
0.2
Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
48 456
48 455
-1
-
Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
11 260
11 270
10
0.1
Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K93)
4 939
4 946
7
0.1
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99)
401
401
-
-
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
1 179
1 178
-1
-0.1
Diseases of the genitourinary system (N00-N99)
3 319
3 326
7
0.2
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)
595
597
2
0.3
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
609
606
-3
-0.5
Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
1 243
1 157
-86
-6.9
External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)
8 804
8 824
20
0.2
Total(a)
143 946
143 946
-
-

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Includes deaths due to Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59), Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95) and Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (O00-O99)


11 Table 4 below shows for 2008, selected causes from the External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98) and Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99), the two chapters expected to be influenced through the revisions process. Despite an increase of only 20 records overall within the external causes chapter, there have been some larger movements at the 2-character classification level.

12 The number of deaths in 2008 due to the following selected causes notably decreased as part of the revisions process:
  • Event of undetermined intent (413 deaths)
  • Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality (96 deaths)
  • Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors (63 deaths).

13 The number of deaths in 2008 due to the following selected causes notably increased as part of the revisions process:
  • Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances (162 deaths)
  • Intentional self-harm (91 deaths)
  • Falls (64 deaths)
  • Car occupant injured in transport accident (53 deaths).

Table 4: Selected Causes of Death Revisions (Preliminary, Revised): 2008

Preliminary
Revised
Change (Preliminary to Revised)
Change (Preliminary to Revised)
no
no
no
%

Sudden infant death syndrome (R95)
59
67
8
13.6
Other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality (R99)
874
778
-96
-11.0
Pedestrian injured in transport accident (V01-V09)
183
206
23
12.6
Motorcycle rider injured in transport accident (V20-V29)
226
251
25
11.1
Car occupant injured in transport accident (V40-V49)
742
795
53
7.1
Occupant of pick-up truck or van injured in transport accident (V50-V59)
34
51
17
50.0
Occupant of heavy transport vehicle injured in transport accident (V60-V69)
41
47
6
14.6
Other land transport accidents (V80-V89)
54
62
8
14.8
Water transport accidents (V90-V94)
32
33
1
3.1
Air and space transport accidents (V95-V97)
44
42
-2
-4.5
Falls (W00-W19)
1 348
1 412
64
4.7
Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (W20-W49)
85
95
10
11.8
Accidental drowning and submersion (W65-W74)
159
169
10
6.3
Other accidental threats to breathing (W75-W84)
208
219
11
5.3
Exposure to smoke, fire and flames (X00-X09)
72
78
6
8.3
Exposure to forces of nature (X30-X39)
58
58
-
-
Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances (X40-X49)
622
784
162
26.0
Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors (X58-X59)
878
815
-63
-7.2
Intentional self-harm (X60-X84)(a)
2 190
2 281
91
4.2
Assault (X85-Y09)
203
215
12
5.9
Event of undetermined intent (Y10-Y34)
1 162
749
-413
-35.5
Drugs, medicaments and biological substances causing adverse effects in therapeutic use (Y40-Y59)
48
49
1
2.1
Surgical and other medical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of the patient, or of later complication, without mention of misadventure at the time of the procedure (Y83-Y84)
187
181
-6
-3.2
Sequelae of external causes of morbidity and mortality (Y85-Y89)
156
153
-3
-1.9

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Care needs to be taken in interpreting figures relating to suicide. See Explanatory Notes 80-83.