What middle-aged men know of their parents' cause of death and age at death. A comparison between history and death certificate.

Middle-aged men's knowledge of the circumstances of their parents' diseases and death is reliable to such an extent that it can be used when appropriate for therapeutic purposes in familial diseases. This conclusion is based on findings in a health examination survey of 441 middle-aged men in Uppsala, Sweden where the men were asked whether their parents were dead and, if so, the known cause of death and at what age they had died. The information reported was then compared with the official data kept by the authorities. In 87% of cases it was possible to perform such a comparison. The study showed good conformity of the two sources, in general.