Multiple causes of death.

This article illustrates analytical uses of multiple-cause-of-death data [in Canada] which reflect all causes entered on the death certificate not only the single underlying cause. Heart diseases are used as an example....Four-fifths of death certificates contained more than one cause; the maximum was 16. Certain causes such as septicaemia and atherosclerosis contributed to death much more often than they were selected as the underlying cause. Among selected causes diabetes was most positively associated with the presence of heart diseases. (EXCERPT)