NICE, a new cause of death classification for stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Neonatal and Intrauterine Death Classification according to Etiology.

BACKGROUND

Stillbirths and neonatal deaths are often the result of a complicated chain of events. For epidemiological purposes a classification into single cause of death groups is essential. For large-scale studies, a method is needed which enables such grouping based on available register data.

METHODS

A cause of death classification system called NICE is presented. It is hierarchical and is aetiologically orientated. A computerized method is adapted which makes use of data in four central Swedish registries. A validation of the computer method has been made from the medical records on a 10% sample of all stillbirths and neonatally dead infants in Sweden from 1983 to 1990.

RESULTS

The specificity of the computer method is high, sensitivity is less satisfactory for some subgroups. A time trend analysis illustrates the usefulness of the classification system and shows a decline with time for two groups: placental abruption and obstetric complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The NICE classification system fulfils the criteria of an aetiologically orientated classification system which can be used in a computerized environment.