Definitions

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The definitions used for the production of statistical tables of Canadian vital statistics data are based on those recommended by the World Health Organization1 and the United Nations.2

Age. Age attained at the last birthday preceding death. In the case of infant deaths, the completed number of months (or minutes, hours, or days) since birth.

Cause of death. The cause of death coded and tabulated is the underlying cause of death. This is defined as "(a) the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or (b) the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury". This underlying cause of death is selected from a number of conditions listed on the medical certificate of cause of death.

Beginning in the year 2000 in Canada, causes of death and stillbirth are coded to the 10th revision of the World Health Organization's International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). The previous revision, ICD-93  was used in Canada for the classification of cause of death and stillbirth from 1979 to 1999.

Death. The permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after a live birth has taken place. Stillbirths are excluded from death statistics unless otherwise indicated.

  • Infant death:  Death of a child under one year of age.

ICD-10 codes. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) codes, 10th Revision, were established by the World Health Organization in 1992. The ICD-10 manual assigns codes to specific diseases, injuries and causes of death.

Notes

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Volumes 1 and 2  (ICD-10). Geneva, 1992.
  2. United Nations. Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System. Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 19, Rev. 1. New York, 1974.
  3. World Health Organization (WHO). International Classification of Diseases, 1975 Revision, Volume 1 (ICD-9). Geneva, 1977.