[Multiple codification of the causes of death: from dying "of" to dying "from"]

Multiple-cause mortality data is examined in the Valencian Region. In addition to coding the underlying cause of death (UCD), all causes of death which appeared mentioned on death certificates (MCD) were coded according to preliminary rules established by the Mortality Statistics Office. Specific diseases were selected to explore mortality patterns. The average number of conditions coded per death certificate was 2.7. Two or more conditions on the lowest used line appeared in 33.8% of all medical certificates. Septicaemia, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis stand out among the conditions more often coded as MCD than coded as UCD. Exploring for mortality patterns a statistical association between coronary heart disease and diabetes emerged (p less than 0.0001). Multiple-cause mortality coding allow to discriminate mortality patterns and show a new magnitude to some specific causes of death.