Use of primary diagnosis during hospitalization in the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde) to qualify information regarding the underlying cause of natural deaths among the elderly

Conclusion: The methodology developed and applied for the recovery of the information on the natural cause of death among the elderly in this study had the advantage of effectiveness and the reduction of costs compared to an investigation of the death that is recommended in situations of non-linked and low positive predictive values. Monitoring the mortality profile by the cause of death is necessary to periodically update the predictive values.
Source: Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia - Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research