Table 2.
Comparisons of sensitivity and specificity of death certificates in reporting diabetes after stratification by characteristics using z-test of binomial proportions: the Rancho Bernardo Study, 1972–2003.*
| Characteristic | Sensitivity | Specificity | N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Sensitivity | |||
| Anywhere on Death Certificate | 34.7 | 98.1 | 3209 |
| Underlying Cause of Death | 6.2 | 99.8 | 3209 |
| Age at Death (in quartiles) | |||
| ≤76 years old* | 36.7 | 98.6 | 863 |
| 77–82 years old | 31.6 | 97.8 | 719 |
| 83–88 years old | 40.2 | 97.9 | 856 |
| 89+ years old | 29.2 | 97.9 | 771 |
| Sex | |||
| Men | 31.8 | 98.0 | 1641 |
| Women* | 39.4 | 98.1 | 1568 |
| Cause of Death | |||
| CVD | 39.4† | 97.6 | 1324 |
| All Other Causes* | 22.5 | 98.5 | 1862 |
| Place of Death | |||
| Hospital | 35.8† | 98.2 | 2136 |
| Home | 37.1 | 98.6 | 689 |
| Other* | 26.3 | 96.3 | 366 |
| Year of Death | |||
| 1972–1981* | 36.9 | 98.0 | 714 |
| 1982–1991 | 33.6† | 98.6 | 1324 |
| 1992–2003 | 34.9† | 97.5 | 1171 |
| Diagnostic Method | |||
| Doctor’s Diagnosis Only* | 16.6 | 95.3 | 139 |
| Doctor’s Diagnosis & Medication Use | 48.6† | 97.4 | 183 |
*
Significance examined using z-test of binomial proportions (reference categories were <76 years old, other places of death and year of deaths from 1972–1981)
†
p<0.05