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. 1992 Jun 15;156(12):860-3.
doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1992.tb137000.x.

Accuracy of asthma statistics from death certificates in South Australia

D A Campbell  1 , G McLennan, J R Coates, P A Frith, P A Gluyas, K M Latimer, A J Martin, D M Roder, R E Ruffin, P M Yellowlees
Affiliations

Accuracy of asthma statistics from death certificates in South Australia

D A Campbell et al. Med J Aust. .

Abstract

Objective: To assess the accuracy of asthma statistics from death certificates in South Australia.

Design: Comparison of death certificate coding with expert panel assessments of causes of death after interviews with certifying doctors, regular medical practitioners and close acquaintances of the deceased.

Subjects: 261 subjects for whom the term "asthma", "asthmatic" or "asthmaticus" was recorded in Part I or Part II of death certificates lodged in the 24-month period from May 1988.

Main outcome measures: Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of death certificate coding, with expert panel assessments as the reference standard.

Results: About 95% of deaths assessed as definitely due to asthma were so coded from death certificates, but only 69% of deaths assessed by the panel as not due to asthma were coded to a "non-asthmatic" cause. Of the 129 deaths coded to asthma, the percentage assessed as definitely or likely to be due to asthma was 56%. For ages under 65 years, this figure was 84% compared with only 38% for older subjects.

Conclusion: The accuracy of death certificate data on asthma for the age group 65 years and over would be too low at present for most epidemiological purposes.

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