|
Four strata for disproportionate stratification based on cause of death* |
| Stratum 0 |
| Cause of death implies that an ELD is certain |
| Included causes of death: euthanasia**. |
| Every death in this stratum is selected for the survey. |
| Stratum 1 |
| Cause of death implies that an ELD is probable |
| Included causes of death: neoplasms (ICD-10 codes: C, D00–D48). |
| One out of every two deaths in this stratum is selected for the survey. |
| Stratum 2 |
| Cause of death implies that an ELD is possible |
| Included causes of death: endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases; mental and behavioural disorders; diseases of the nervous system; diseases of the respiratory system; diseases of the digestive system; diseases of the genitourinary system (ICD-10 codes: E, F, G, J, K, N). |
| One out of every four deaths in this stratum is selected for the survey. |
| Stratum 3 |
| Cause of death implies that an ELD is improbable |
| All remaining causes of death are included in this stratum (ICD-10 codes: A, D50–D99, H, I, L, M, Q, R, S, T, U, V, Y). |
| One out of every eight deaths in this stratum is selected for the survey. |
|
* Causes of death were grouped into strata based on the probability of an ELD as observed in the Flemish part of the EURELD six nations study (2001) [14]. ** Although there is no box to specify euthanasia in the death certificate, it is occasionally written down by the certifying physician in the section 'immediate cause of death'. |
Chambaere et al. BMC Public Health 2008 8:299 doi:10.1186/1471-2458-8-299 |