National mortality followback survey: 1986 summary, United States

This report provides national estimates of the incidence of significant characteristics of adults who died in the United States in 1986. Data are included on use of health services, disabilities, lifestyle practices that may affect health and mortality, and socioeconomic circumstances of the decedents. These data supplement routinely available information on mortality in the United States. The basic source of data on mortality in the United States is the information routinely collected on death certificates filed with the vital statistics registrars in each State. Under the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects data from registration offices in these States and in New York City and the District of Columbia to obtain national data. These annual data are valuable in understanding mortality characteristics and trends in the U.S. population, but because the death certificates from which they come are designed for administrative and legal as well as statistical uses, there are limitations on the information that can be included on these records. NCHS therefore periodically conducts mortality followback surveys in which a greater depth of information can be obtained.