Reclassifying causes of death to study the epidemiological transition in the Netherlands,1875-1992.

Abstract

"This article describes a method for reclassifying causes of death in the Netherlands for the period 1875-1992....A method developed by Vallin and Mesle (1988), which involves ¿dual correspondence tables' and ¿fundamental associations', was used to create nosologically continuous categories. These categories were tested for statistical continuity during the transition years of one ICD-revision [International Classification of Diseases] to the next, using ordinary least squares regression analysis. The reclassification procedure resulted in a nested classification consisting of three levels of refinement of causes of death: 27 causes, 1875-1992; 65 causes, 1901-1992; and 92 causes, 1931-1992. On the basis of this classification, 43% of all deaths in 1875-79 and 98% of all deaths in 1992 could be allocated to either communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases or external causes." (SUMMARY IN FRE)