[Mortality in former and new Germany 1991]

In 1991 total mortality in the new Bundesländer (former German Democratic Republic), broken down by sex and age group, was considerably higher than in the old Bundesländer (former Federal Republic), giving a standard mortality ratio (SMR) of 114.6 for males and 115.3 for females with a maximum of 175.0 for males from 35 to 39 years of age and 168.6 for females from 15 to 19. There were considerable differences by causes of death as represented by the main groups of ICD-9. Mortality was higher in the old Bundesländer for communicable diseases, neoplasms, diseases of the nerval system. In combination with gravidity and delivery and, finally, for unqualified causes. On the other hand excess mortality was present in the new Bundesländer for metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the digestive system and injuries. Whereas differences by total mortality cannot be otherwise than real it is still uncertain whether the causes of death really are as different as shown by the crude death rates. For the next future no combined mortality rates should be used for the united Federal Republic but still different ones for the old and new Bundesländer.