SELECTED UNDERLYING CAUSES OF DEATH
Cancers (C00-D48)
Cancers were the underlying cause of 41,596 doctor certified deaths in 2008, an increase on the 39,652 doctor certified deaths in 2007. In 2007, doctor certified deaths made up 98.4% of all deaths due to these causes. Of those deaths due to cancer certified by a doctor, 23,403 were of males and 18,193 were of females. Median age at death for all doctor certified deaths attributed to cancer was 75.4 years.
Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases (E00-E90)
In 2008, Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases were the underlying cause of 5,567 deaths, an increase (10.3%) from the 5,048 doctor certified deaths in 2007. In 2007, doctor certified deaths made up 94.3% of all deaths due to these causes.
Doctor certified deaths due to Diabetes (E10-E14) increased (9.9%) from 3,642 in 2007 to 4,001 in 2008. Specifically, Non-insulin diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes (E11) increased from 1,563 in 2007 to 1,817 in 2008. Unspecified diabetes (E14) increased from 1,723 in 2007 to 1,818 in 2008.
Of those deaths due to Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases certified by a doctor, 2,722 were males and 2,845 were females. Median age at death for all doctor certified deaths attributed to Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases was 81.6 years.
Mental and Behavioural Disorders (F00-F99)
Mental and behavioural disorders were the underlying cause of 6,073 doctor certified deaths in 2008, a 10.8% increase from the 5,479 doctor certified deaths in 2007. The majority of deaths due to Mental and behavioural disorders are usually certified by a doctor. In 2007, doctor certified deaths made up 95.9% of all deaths due to these causes.
Dementia (F01-F03) accounted for the majority of the increase in doctor certified deaths due to Mental and behavioural disorders in 2008, increasing from 4,975 doctor certified deaths in 2007 to 5,566 in 2008. This followed a significant increase in 2006, from 2,489 in 2005. This was due to a change in coding, as well as legislative changes, as outlined in Explanatory Note paragraph 37. These changes continue to apply for 2008 data.
Of those deaths due to Mental and behavioural disorders certified by a doctor, 2,178 were of males and 3,895 were of females. The median age at death for all doctor certified deaths attributed to Mental and behavioural disorders was 87.4 years.
Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99)
Diseases of the nervous system were the underlying cause of 5,654 doctor certified deaths in 2008, a 9.0% increase from the 5,186 doctor certified deaths in 2007. In 2007, doctor certified deaths made up 94.9% of all deaths due to these causes.
Alzheimer's disease (G30) accounted for the majority of the increase in doctor certified deaths due to diseases of the nervous system in 2008, increasing from 2,252 in 2007 to 2,445 in 2008.
Of those deaths due to Diseases of the nervous system certified by a doctor, 2,547 were males and 3,107 were females. The median age at death for all doctor certified deaths attributed to Diseases of the nervous system was 82.8 years.
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels (I00-I99)
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels were the underlying cause of 41,694 deaths certified by a doctor in 2008, a 2.8% increase from the 40,573 doctor certified deaths in 2007. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels generally include a relatively high proportion of coroner certified deaths. In 2007, doctor certified deaths made up 87.0% of all deaths due to these causes.
Of those deaths due to Diseases of the heart and blood vessels certified by a doctor, 18,252 were males and 23,442 were females. Median age at death for all doctor certified deaths attributed to Diseases of the heart and blood vessels was 85.8 years.
Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
Diseases of the respiratory system were the underlying cause of 10,547 doctor certified deaths in 2008, a 3.6% decrease from the 10,940 doctor certified deaths in 2007. In 2007, doctor certified deaths made up 94.5% of all deaths due to these causes.
Of those deaths due to Diseases of the respiratory system certified by a doctor, 5,501 were males and 5,046 were females. Median age at death for all doctor certified deaths attributed to Diseases of the respiratory system was 82.9 years.
3 Selected Underlying Causes of Death, Doctor Certified Deaths, Sex and Median Age - 2008(a) |
|
 | Males | Males | Females | Females | Persons | Median Age at death |
| Cause of death and ICD-10 code | no. | % | no. | % | no. | years |
|
| Infectious diseases (A00-B99) | 937 | 51.2 | 892 | 48.8 | 1 829 | 80.6 |
| Cancer (C00-D48) | 23 403 | 56.2 | 18 193 | 43.7 | 41 596 | 75.4 |
| Blood and immunity disorders (D50-D89) | 229 | 48.7 | 241 | 51.3 | 470 | 81.4 |
| Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90) | 2 722 | 48.9 | 2 845 | 51.1 | 5 567 | 81.6 |
| Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99) | 2 178 | 35.9 | 3 895 | 64.1 | 6 073 | 87.4 |
| Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99) | 2 547 | 45.0 | 3 107 | 55.0 | 5 654 | 82.8 |
| Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59)(b) | 6 | 60.0 | 3 | 30.0 | 10 | 81.5 |
| Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Diseases of the heart and blood vessels (I00-I99) | 18 252 | 43.8 | 23 442 | 56.2 | 41 694 | 85.8 |
| Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99) | 5 501 | 52.2 | 5 046 | 47.8 | 10 547 | 82.9 |
| Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K93) | 2 045 | 48.2 | 2 194 | 51.8 | 4 239 | 81.5 |
| Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99) | 171 | 44.9 | 210 | 55.1 | 381 | 85.7 |
| Diseases of the muscles, bones and tendons (M00-M99) | 364 | 33.5 | 722 | 66.5 | 1 086 | 84.5 |
| Diseases of the kidney and urinary system (N00-N99) | 1 478 | 46.3 | 1 715 | 53.7 | 3 193 | 85.8 |
| Pregnancy and childbirth (O00-O99)(b) | - | - | 4 | 400.0 | 1 | 36.5 |
| Conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96) | 303 | 56.7 | 231 | 43.3 | 534 | 0.5 |
| Congenital and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | 270 | 53.5 | 235 | 46.5 | 505 | 0.9 |
| Ill-defined causes (R00-R99) | 130 | 34.4 | 248 | 65.6 | 378 | 88.9 |
| External causes (V01-Y98) | 686 | 45.1 | 835 | 54.9 | 1 521 | 86.1 |
| Total Doctor certified deaths | 61 222 | 48.9 | 64 056 | 51.1 | 125 278 | 82.2 |
| Total Coroner certified deaths | 12 326 | 66.0 | 6 342 | 34.0 | 18 668 | 61.1 |
| Total Deaths | 73 548 | 51.1 | 70 398 | 48.9 | 143 946 | 80.9 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) Data cells with small values have been randomly assigned to protect the confidentiality of individuals. As a result, some totals will not equal the sum of their components. It is important to note that cells with a zero value have not been affected by confidentialisation. |
| (b) Proportions for males and females not applicable as values have been randomly assigned and do not add to total persons |
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