[Causes of death from breast cancer in Colombia]

Objective To review the direct causes of death from breast cancer in Colombia according to data from death certificates in 2008. Material and Methods We reviewed the direct causes of death in patients whose code of underlying cause of death was malignant tumor of the breast according to the National Statistics Department of Colombia's (DANE from Spanish initials) records of death in 2008. Distribution is evaluated by diagnostic code, age, educational level, marital status, social security and place of death. Results In women, the main direct causes of death were respiratory insufficiency or failure, cardiac arrest, multiple or multisystem organ failure, breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer. Most of the death codes were C509 and they were issued for women over 50 years. In men, the most common cause was respiratory failure. Conclusions The main denominations listed on death records as a direct cause of death from breast cancer were respiratory failure and arrest and cardiopulmonary arrest. However, it is evident that this arises from problems in the registry that are the result of not following the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Improving the quality of death records is required so that all the information given by the death certificates can be used more effectively.