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Comparative Study
. 2015 Nov 12;5(11):e009464.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009464.

Associations between chronic diseases and choking deaths among older adults in the USA: a cross-sectional study using multiple cause mortality data from 2009 to 2013

Wen-Shiann Wu  1 , Kuan-Chin Sung  2 , Tain-Junn Cheng  3 , Tsung-Hsueh Lu  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Associations between chronic diseases and choking deaths among older adults in the USA: a cross-sectional study using multiple cause mortality data from 2009 to 2013

Wen-Shiann Wu et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: To examine whether the strengths of the associations between chronic diseases and overall choking differ from those of the associations between chronic diseases and only food-related choking.

Design: This cross-sectional study used nationwide multiple cause mortality files.

Setting: The USA.

Participants: Older adults aged 65 years or more died between 2009 and 2013.

Main outcome measures: Mortality ratio (observed/expected) of number of deaths from both causes (chronic diseases and choking) and 95% CIs.

Results: We identified 76543 deaths for which the death certificates report choking (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes W78, W79 and W80 combined) as a cause of death and only 4974 (6.5%) deaths were classified as food-related choking (ICD-10 code W79). Schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and oral cancer are four chronic diseases that had significant associations with both overall and food-related choking. Stroke, larynx cancer and mood (affective) disorders had significant associations with overall choking, but not with food-related choking.

Conclusions: We suggest using overall choking instead of only food-related choking to better describe the associations between chronic diseases and choking.

Keywords: ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY MEDICINE; GERIATRIC MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH; THORACIC MEDICINE.

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