Data Dictionary: Causes of death - Statistics Finland

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Name	Description
Year of death	Person's year of death derived from the date of death. Data from The Population Information System.
Sex	Person's sex at the time of death. Data from The Population Information System. 1 = male 2 = female
Group of deceased based on age	1 = 1-year-old or older 2 = 28 days - 11 months 3 = 7 - 27 days 4 = 0 - 6 days
Age at the time of death	Person’s precise age in years at the time of death.
Basis for investigation of cause of death	The basis for an investigation of the cause of death is the information on the death certificate. The basis in law for an investigation of the cause of death is the Act on the Investigation of the Cause of Death (1973/459) Forensic autopsy: Forensic autopsy is most often performed if the death has occurred in such circumstances that police investigation is necessary in order to establish the cause of death. A forensic autopsy is performed at the request of the police. A police investigation will be conducted in the following situations: - If the deceased was not under a doctor's care during his/her last illness, or - If the death was caused by a crime, accident, suicide, poisoning, occupational disease or medical treatment or there is cause to suspect that the death was caused by such a reason, or - If the death otherwise occurred unexpectedly. Medical autopsy: A medical autopsy can be performed: - If the cause of death cannot be established from information on the deceased person during his/her lifetime and information related to the event of his/her death, and the deceased person was in the care of a doctor during his/her last illness, and if an autopsy is necessary in the interest of public health and medical science, - The next of kin or otherwise close person of the deceased requests it. Thus, a medical autopsy is performed at the request of a physician or relatives of the deceased. Other basis for investigating the cause of death: The most common other basis for an investigation of the cause of death is a clinical examination of the deceased and information on his/her last illness or medical treatment. Different classifications used in different years. In 1 January 2014, a new death certificate form was introduced in which there was a new class: 8 = forensic inquest, no autopsy. The form was first used in the middle of the statistical year 2013. From the statistical year 2015 onwards, this variable has been processed according to the following rule: If class of death (kluokka) is other than disease (1) and the basis for an investigation of the cause of death variable has been marked “medical inquest, no autopsy” (1), the variable receives the value “forensic inquest, no autopsy” (8). 1998-: 1 = clinical examination 2 = medical autopsy 3 = forensic autopsy 4 = died abroad, only foreign certificate of causes (can be coded ksyyt) 5 = only notification of death, no death certificate (includes death certificates that do not include causes of death) 8 = forensic examination, no autopsy (only on the new form) 9 = no data on the basis 1987-97: 0 = processing of death certificate in progress 1 = only external examination 2= clinical examination 3 = forensic autopsy 4 = medical autopsy 5 = temporary death certificate that includes causes of death 8 = foreign death certificate/examination that includes causes of death 9 = basis unknown blank = no death certificate or temporary certificate that does not include causes of death 1981-86: 0 = foreign certificate 1 = medical examiner has not seen 2 = external examination 3 = clinical examination 4 = special examination 5 = medical autopsy 6 = forensic autopsy 8 = temporary certificate 9 = unknown 1971-80: 0 = foreign certificate 1 = medical examiner has not seen 2 = external examination 3 = clinical examination 4 = special examination 5 = forensic external examination 6 = forensic autopsy 7 = medical autopsy 8 = temporary certificate 9 = unknown
Country of death	Person's country of death. The country of death is found on the death certificate, so there are no data on the country of death if the information on a person’s death is only from the Population Information System. Classification: valtio_12_1999_05_10
Place of death	Different years with different classifications. A new death certificate form came into effect on 1 January 2014, where the category 'other' is separated from the social service unit into its own category. For example, a dead person in a nursing home can belong to either category 3 or 5 depending on the form used. Some of the deaths from 2013-2014 were written on a new form, some on the old one. Person’s place of death: From 1998 ->: 1 = health care unit (hospital, health center, polyclinic), not an ambulance 2 = home, apartment (person’s own or someone else’s), including summer cottage 3 = other (including old-age homes 1998-2013 old form) 4 = rest of the world 5 = social services unit (from 2013 onwards, new form) 9 = unknown Blank = no death certificate 1987-97: 0 = processing of death certificate still ongoing 1 = hospital, health center bed section 2 = police custody, jail 3 = polyclinic, health center 4 = apartment, summer cottage 5 = retirement home, other 8 = rest of the world 9 = unknown Blank = no death certificate, or temporary certificate with no cause of death 1981-86: 1 = hospital 2 = retirement home 3 = polyclinic, health center 4 = own home 5 = other private residence 6 = other 8 = rest of the world 9 = unknown 1977-80: 1 = hospital 2 = retirement home 3 = own home 4 = other 8 = rest of the world, domestic certificate 9 = rest of the world, foreign certificate 1974-76: 1 = hospital 2 = retirement home 3 = home 4 = other 9 = death abroad 1971-73: 1 = hospital 2 = retirement home 3 = other 9 = rest of the world
Statistical underlying cause of death	The underlying cause of death is the disease which has initiated the series of illnesses leading directly to death, or the circumstances connected with an accident or an act of violence which caused the injury or poisoning leading to death. The cause of death used in statistics (the so-called statistical underlying cause of death) is determined according to the selection and application rules of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and can therefore differ from the underlying cause of death given by a doctor in the death certificate.
Statistical underlying cause of death, 54-class time series	The 54-class time series classification of the underlying cause of death 1998-: 54 classes, 54 = no death certificate. Before the year 1998, cases belonging to this class were in class 40. 1969-96: 53 classes blank = no data on cause of death The key between the short list in the time series of the causes of death since 1969 and the earlier classifications [1]
External cause of injury or violence	Data since 1996. The main external cause of injury or poisoning leading to the statistical underlying cause of death for accidental and violent deaths. Classification: kuolinsyyt_71_1996_01_01
Type of accident	1998-2013: Data on the accident’s location or activity at the time of the accident. From 2014 onwards, data only on the location of the accident at the time of the accident. From 2014 onwards, accidental poisoning no longer separated as its own class. Since 2015, the ‘tapat’ (type of accident) variable is subject to the following rule: If a poisoning the class of death which is unclear (kluokka=8) becomes an accidental poisoning, then ‘tapat’ receives the value ‘unknown’ (8). Since 2014: 0 = social welfare unit 1 = transport, traffic 5 = home 6 = health care unit 7 = other 8 = unknown blank = not an accidental death 1998-2013: 0 = retirement home 1 = transport, traffic 2 = work 3 = sports, physical exercise 4 = leisure-time activities 5 = home 6 = health care unit 7 = other 8 = unknown 9 = poisoning blank = not an accidental death
1st parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	If the cause is an accident or violence, then 1st injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days. NB. 1969?-1993 only for accidental and violent deaths. 1994-95 if disease, then statistically disregarded condition, condition specifying the underlying cause of death (various deformities, valvular disorders) or the parallel code of infections.
2nd parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1987. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 2nd injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days. 1987-1993 only for accidental and violent deaths. 1994-95 if disease, then statistically disregarded 2nd condition, condition specifying the underlying cause of death (various deformities, valvular disorders) or the parallel code of infections.
3rd parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1987. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 3rd injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
Immediate cause of death	Data since 1987. Immediate cause of death refers to the disease, failure or injury whose symptoms cause the person to die. However, the actual mechanism of death, e.g. cardiac arrest, are not regarded as immediate causes of death. No data for infants who died aged under 28 days.
1st intermediate cause	Data since 1987. Intermediate cause of death refers to the condition which leads from the underlying cause of death to the immediate cause of death. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
2nd intermediate cause	Data since 1996. Intermediate cause of death refers to the condition which leads from the underlying cause of death to the immediate cause of death. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
1st contributing cause of death	Data since 1987. 1st contributing cause of death, 1st other cause for infants who died aged under 28 days. The contributing cause of death is recorded in the death certificate. The doctor will report in part II of the death certificate as contributing causes of death the reasons which have adversely affected the development of the condition leading to death and hence contributed to it.
2nd contributing cause of death	Data since 1987. 2nd contributing cause, 2nd other cause for infants who died aged under 28 days. The contributing cause of death is recorded in the death certificate. The doctor will report in part II of the death certificate as contributing causes of death the reasons which have adversely affected the development of the condition leading to death and hence contributed to it.
3rd contributing cause of death	Data since 1987. 3rd contributing cause, mother's main reason contributing to the infant dying before the age of 28 days. The contributing cause of death is recorded in the death certificate. The doctor will report in part II of the death certificate as contributing causes of death the reasons which have adversely affected the development of the condition leading to death and hence contributed to it.
4th contributing cause of death	Data since 1996. 4th contributing cause, mother's 1st other cause contributing to the infant dying before the age of 28 days. The contributing cause of death is recorded in the death certificate. The doctor will report in part II of the death certificate as contributing causes of death the reasons which have adversely affected the development of the condition leading to death and hence contributed to it.
5th contributing cause	Data since 1996, but for those who died aged 28 days or older, data only for 1996-1997. 5th contributing cause, mother’s 2nd cause for infants who died aged under 28 days.
6th contributing cause	Data only for 1996-1997. No data for those who died aged under 28 days.
Cause of death from the event information, child's 3rd other reason	Data since 1996. Cause of death from the event information: for those who died aged 28 days or older, the cause of death is formed based on the event information in the death certificate. 3rd cause of death for a child who died aged under 28 days.
Municipality of residence in year of death	Since 1998 according to the municipal division of the year of death. 1971-1997 according to the 1997 municipal division.
Class of death	Data since 1998. Defined by the chosen underlying cause of death (Vpks). May differ from the class of death of the statistical underlying cause of death. 1 = disease 2 = occupational disease 3 = accident 4 = medical treatment or procedure 5 = suicide 6 = homicide 7 = war 8 = unclear 9 = no certification of death
4th parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 4th injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
5th parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 5th injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
1st parallel code of immediate cause of death	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
1st parallel code of 1st intermediate cause	Data since 1998. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
1st parallel code of 2nd intermediate cause	Data since 1998. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
1st parallel code of the 1st contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
2nd parallel code of the 1st contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
3rd parallel code of the 1st contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. No data for those who died aged under 28 days.
4th parallel code of the 1st contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. No data for those who died aged under 28 days.
5th parallel code of the 1st contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. No data for those who died aged under 28 days.
1st parallel code of the 2nd contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
1st parallel code of the 3rd contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
1st parallel code of the 4th contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
1st parallel code of the 5th contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
Alcohol-related cause (wide definition)	Data since 1998. Is the cause of death alcohol-related 1= underlying cause of death is alcohol-related disease 2 = underlying cause of death is poisoning where alcohol is the sole contributing substance 3 = underlying cause of death is poisoning where alcohol is the main contributing substance but not the only contributing substance 4 = underlying cause of death is poisoning where alcohol is involved but not as the main contributing substance 5 = underlying cause of death is not alcohol-related, contributing cause of death is inebriation in which alcohol involved 6 = underlying cause of death is not alcohol-related, sole contributing cause of death is alcohol-related disease 0 = no alcohol-related causes Alcohol as contributing substance: -T510-T519, T523, T528 as parallel code Alcohol-related disease: - F101-F109, G312, G4051 (epilepsy caused by alcohol, statistics’ own code; since 1998), G621, G721, I426, K292, K700-K709, K860, K8600 (replaced by code K852 since 2007), O354, P043, Q860 - F191-F199 and alcohol as contributing substance Poisoning/inebriation where alcohol involved: - F100, X40-X49, X60-X69, Y10-Y19 and alcohol as contributing substance - F110, F120, F130, F140, F150, F160, F170, F180, F190 and alcohol as contributing substance
Municipality of death	Can be used since 2014. From the death certificate as written by a doctor. The municipality code exists if it can be deduced from the text concerning the municipality of death. Coverage 2014: 73%, 2015: 89 %, 2016: 96 %
1st parallel code of child’s principal cause of death	The 1st parallel code of the principal cause of death for those who died aged under 28 days.
2nd parallel code of child's principal cause of death	The 2nd parallel code of the principal cause of death for those who died aged under 28 days.
2nd parallel code of the 2nd contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
2nd parallel code of the 3rd contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
2nd parallel code of the 4th contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
2nd parallel code of the 5th contributing cause	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then an injury code or a contributing substance. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code.
1st parallel code of the 3rd other cause of a child	1st parallel code of the 3rd other contributing cause of death for those who died aged under 28 days.
2nd parallel code of the 3rd other cause of a child	2nd parallel code of the 3rd other contributing cause of death for those who died aged under 28 days.
Alcohol-related cause (narrow definition)	Is the cause of death alcohol-related 1998-: 1 = alcohol-related cause is Tpks (Statistical underlying cause of death) 2 = alcohol-related cause is not Tpks but is one of the contributing causes blank = no alcohol-related causes 1987-97: 1 = alcohol-related cause is Tpks 2 = alcohol-related cause is not Tpks but is one of the contributing causes 3 = inebriation caused by alcohol is one of the contributing causes, not Tpks blank = no alcohol-related causes 1971-86: 1 = alcohol-related cause is Tpks blank = no alcohol-related causes Alcohol-related causes: 1998-: F10, G312, G4051, G621, G721, I426, K292, K70, K860, O354, P043, X45, Q860 (since 2004), K852 (since 2007 replaces K8600) 1996-97: F10, G312, G621, G721, I426, K292, K70, K860, O354, P043, X45 1987-95: 291, 303, 3575, 4255, 5353, 5710-5713, 5770D-F, 5771C-D, 607A, 7795A, E851 1969-86: 291, 303, 5710, 577(Men), E860
1st parallel code of the 6th contributing cause	No cases.
2nd parallel code of the 6th contributing cause	No cases.
Selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1996. The underlying cause of death determined according to the selection rules of the World Health Organisation (WHO), not necessarily the same as the underlying cause of death attributed by a doctor, and not necessarily the same as the ultimate cause of death in the final statistics. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days. NB. some individual data also for 1969-1995.
Main group of statistical underlying cause of death	The main group of classification of diseases. The main groups are different in different classifications.
Statistical underlying cause of death a disease or an external cause	Data since 1998. Is the statistical underlying cause of death a disease or an external cause 0 = disease 1 = accident, violence 9 = no death certificate
Date of death (YYYY-MM-DD)	Person’s date of death, YYYY-MM-DD. Invalid dates of death = NULL, but kvuosi (Year of death) is indicated (438 cases). Data from The Population Information System.
1st parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	If the cause is an accident or violence, then 1st injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days. NB. 1969?-1993 only for accidental and violent deaths. 1994-95 if disease, then statistically disregarded condition, condition specifying the underlying cause of death (various deformities, valvular disorders) or the parallel code of infections.
2nd parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1987. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 2nd injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days. 1987-1993 only for accidental and violent deaths. 1994-95 if disease, then statistically disregarded 2nd condition, condition specifying the underlying cause of death (various deformities, valvular disorders) or the parallel code of infections.
3rd parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1987. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 3rd injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
4th parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 4th injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
5th parallel code of selected underlying cause of death	Data since 1998. If the cause is an accident or violence, then 5th injury code or a contributing substance of poisoning. If disease, then the manifestation of the disease or the source of the disease or other condition complementing the disease. The parallel code cannot exist without the actual cause code. Not for infants who died aged under 28 days.
Drug-related cause	EMCDDA classification for drug-related causes of death
Drug-related cause (Selection B)	EMCDDA drug-related sudden causes of death (Selection B)
Type of intoxication	Alcohol, drug and medicine related intoxication of persons who died accidentally or violently. Information since year 1998. 0 = no intoxication 1 = alcohol-related intoxication without drugs/medicines 2 = alcohol and drug/medicine related intoxication 3 = drug/medicine related intoxication without alcohol bl = poisoning or other than accidental or violent death
Date of declared death in absentia	The date the person was declared dead. Includes those declared dead who have been registered in the population information system since January 1, 2018.