Citation

Wu WS, Sung KC, Cheng TJ, Lu TH. BMJ Open 2015; 5(11): e009464.

Affiliation

NCKU Research Center for Health Data and Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009464

PMID

26563213

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the strengths of the associations between chronic diseases and overall choking differ from those of the associations between chronic diseases and only food-related choking.

DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used nationwide multiple cause mortality files. SETTING: The USA. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults aged 65 years or more died between 2009 and 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality ratio (observed/expected) of number of deaths from both causes (chronic diseases and choking) and 95% CIs.

RESULTS: We identified 76543 deaths for which the death certificates report choking (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes W78, W79 and W80 combined) as a cause of death and only 4974 (6.5%) deaths were classified as food-related choking (ICD-10 code W79). Schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and oral cancer are four chronic diseases that had significant associations with both overall and food-related choking. Stroke, larynx cancer and mood (affective) disorders had significant associations with overall choking, but not with food-related choking.

CONCLUSIONS: We suggest using overall choking instead of only food-related choking to better describe the associations between chronic diseases and choking.

Language: en