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Czechia

Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

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Causes of death (hlth_cdeath)

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National Reference Metadata in Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS)

Compiling agency: Czech Statistical Office

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Data on causes of death (COD) provide information on mortality patterns and form a major element of public health information.

COD data refer to the underlying cause which - according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) - is "the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury".


COD data are obtained/derived from the medical part of death certificates. The Czech Statistical Office codes the information about causes of death into ICD codes according to the rules specified in the ICD. The underlying cause of death is selected by automated coding system (IRIS).

Data are broken down by sex, age, underlying cause of death, residency of deceased person and country of occurrence. Stillbirths and neonatal deaths are additionally broken down by age of mother.

Annual national data are provided in absolute numbers and at regional level NUTS 2.

5 December 2024

There is a difference between the regulation's definition and national statistical concept for stillbirth, see point 3.4.2.

The statistical unit is the deceased person and stillbirth. The reporting unit is the certifier-physician.

Registered population = the citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners with permanent residence in the Czech Republic, third-country nationals with temporary residence in the territory of the Czech Republic based on a long-term visa (over 90 days) or a long-term residence permit, nationals of the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and their family members with notified temporary residence in the territory of the Czech Republic and foreigners with valid asylum status in the Czech Republic and persons granted temporary protection with usual residence in the Czech Republic. The counts of deaths of Czech citizens with the permanent residence in the Czech Republic that occurred abroad and were registered in the Czech Republic are also included.

Czech Republic - national and NUTS 2 level.

Data refer to the calendar year (i.e. all deaths occurring during the year).

The control of continuity of serial numbers of records on deaths in the national registry, which are collected as well in statistical reports, ensures the completeness of counts of deaths and stillbirths (according to the national definition of stillbirth).

Deaths: If a statistical report on death is not linked with a death certificate with information on causes of death of the same person, code R99 as the underlying cause of death is assigned.

Stillbirths: In case of stillbirths coming from national statistics on stillbirths, the parity is not available.

The Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the CR that collects data on abortions and provide them to the CZSO is responsible for the accuracy of data on spontaneous abortions that meet the regulation's definition of stillbirth.

The data are sent in absolute numbers.

Causes of death:

Underlying cause of death is selected on the basis of ICD-10 rules automatically in IRIS; rejects are coded manually according to the ACME decision tables. Data are validated in IRIS and by the national validation tool. In case of external causes of death, the main injury is also selected on the basis of ICD-10 rules.

 

Stillbirth:

The number of stillbirths has to be adjusted, because the national definition differs from the regulation's definition. The total count of stillbirths comprises of stillbirths from national statistics on stillbirths and spontaneous abortions, which meet the regulation definition of stillbirth (fulfill at least one criterion of stillbirth i.e. the birth weight, the gestation duration or the birth length respectively).

In case of stillbirths coming from national statistics on stillbirths, the parity is not available. Since 2014, only live birth-order of live births is collected.

Causes of death:

Statistical reports on death provided to the CZSO by registry offices linked with information on causes of death from death certificates provided to CZSO by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the CR, which collects death certificates with CoD information.

Stillbirths:

Statistical reports on birth provided to the CZSO by registry offices for national statistics on (still)births.

Spontaneous abortions:

Annual data set of individual records provided to the CZSO by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the CR.

Since 2013, annual.

According to the Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 328/2011, each year Member State provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level and related metadata for the reference year within 24 months (in connection with the gentleman agreement within 18 months) from the end of the reference year.

National data

Year Number of months between the end of the reference year and the publication at national level
2011 3
2012 3
2013 18*
2014 7
2015 7
2016 7
2017 8**
2018 8
2019 8
2020 6
2021 6
2022 6
2023 6

* postponed due to the change in the data collection system.

** postponed due to the bug in templates of death certificate in some medical devices.

Data are fully comparable.

Causes of deaths:

Data requested according to the Implementing Regulation No. 328/2011: available since 2011; derogation on the country of occurrence in 2011.

National data on residents: available since 1919.

Breaks in series:

1. in connection with the World War II:

  • data from period 1938-1940 relate only to the territory of the Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia,
  • data from period 1941-1944 relate only to the territory of the Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia and exclude the Germans,
  • data from period 1945-1946 exclude the Germans;

       on the contrary demographic statistics data on deaths in 1937-1946 were adjusted to the territory in 1937 and to the whole population.

2. due to implementation of actual version of ICD and its updates:

   ICD-3: 1919
   ICD-4: 1931
   ICD-5: 1941
   ICD-6: 1949
   ICD-7: 1958
   ICD-8: 1968
   ICD-9: 1979
   ICD-10: 1994
     2009 ICD-10 updates: 2009
     2010 ICD-10 updates: 2011
     2012 ICD-10 updates: 2012
     2013 ICD-10 updates: 2013
     2018 ICD-10 updates: 2018

     2020 ICD-10 updates: 2020 and 2021

     2021 ICD-10 updates: 2022

3. due to changes in data processing:

 2007: ACME decision tables were introduced into coding procedures;
 2011: implementation of IRIS automated coding software;
 2013: introduction of a new death certificate with four lines in part I for certification of causes of death.

Stillbirths:

Data requested according to the Implementing Regulation No. 328/2011:

available since 2011; adjusted to being in compliance with the regulation's definition; fully comparable over time.

Data according to national definition:

 available since 1919; breaks as a consequence of the change in definition in 1949, 1953, 1965, 1988 and 2012.