Ill-defined causes of death in the elderly
Cornejo, E.; Kirschbaum, A.; Castillo, P.
Revista Medica de Chile 118(1): 92-98
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-9887 PMID: 2152708 Document Number: 367628
Over one-half of death certificates from elderly people contain ill-defined causes of death. Usually, signs and symptoms rather than causes of death are registered. Electrolyte imbalance, decubitus ulcer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, etc are some of the most frequently quoted conditions. Adequate preventive programs are jeopardized by lack of more precise information regarding the cause of death and relevant associated conditions in the elderly.