Increasing asthma mortality in Denmark 1969-88 not a result of a changed coding practice
Juel, K.; Pedersen, P.A.
Annals of Allergy 68(2): 180-182
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-4738 PMID: 1739194 Document Number: 397823
We have studied asthma mortality in Denmark from 1969 to 1988. Age standardized mortality rates calculated in three age groups, 10-34, 35-59, and greater than or equal to 60 years, disclosed similar trends. Increasing mortality from asthma in the mid-1970s to 1988 was seen in all three age groups with higher mortality in 1979-88 as compared with 1969-78 of 95%, 55%, and 69%, respectively. Since the eighth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD8) was used in Denmark over the entire 20-year period, changes in coding practice due to change of classification system cannot explain the findings.