In this bulletin patterns of multiple causes are described according to the broad-level classification of cause of death represented by ICD-10 chapters. A list of the ICD-10 chapters and the ICD-10 codes used for each chapter is presented in Table A1.
Benign and malignant tumours. Referred to as cancers in this bulletin.
The chronic diseases selected for analysis in this bulletin are those reported in the indicator for 'Deaths from leading chronic conditions' (AIHW 2009). Although these leading chronic conditions may not equate to the leading causes of death, this set of diseases reflects conditions that are currently the focus of health-related government agencies and researchers. The selected chronic disease causes of death and the codes used to indicate deaths from these conditions are presented in Table A2. Some modifications have been made for the purpose of this bulletin, namely, that all diabetes deaths are reported and that COPD deaths include deaths that were due to bronchitis not specified as acute or chronic.
In this bulletin, deaths from all types of diabetes were assessed. This contrasts with using only Type 2 diabetes in the indicator for 'Deaths due to leading chronic diseases' (AIHW 2009).
In this bulletin, deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include deaths due to bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic. In the indicator for 'Deaths due to leading chronic diseases' (AIHW 2009), COPD deaths exclude deaths due to deaths due to bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic.
End-stage renal failure is referred to as 'chronic and unspecified kidney failure' which includes end-stage renal failure; the ICD-10 codes are the same as those used in the indicator for 'Deaths due to leading chronic diseases' (AIHW 2009).
The cause groups presented here are for the leading associated and leading multiple cause of death categories as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6.
Source: Leading cause of death tabulation based on Becker et al. 2006 and modified by AIHW for the Australian health context.