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Ministry of Health
TABLE 27
SELECTED CAUSES OF INFANT DEATHS AND STILLBIRTHS
BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1998

  Infant Deaths - Age Group (in Days) Stillbirths
Cause of Death ICD9 Code(s) <7 7-27 28-364 Total Rate1 Number Rate2
Congenital anomalies
- of the nervous system 740-742 3 1 1 5 1.17 4 0.93
- of the heart and circulatory system 745-747 8 10 6 24 5.59 2 0.46
- of the respiratory system 748 6 - 1 7 1.63 - -
- of the digestive system 749-751 1 - 1 2 0.47 - -
- of the renal system 753 1 - - 1 0.23 1 0.23
Musculoskeletal/other congenital anomalies 743-744, 752, 754-757 6 - 1 7 1.63 1 0.23
Chromosomal anomalies 758 4 - 4 8 1.86 13 3.01
Multiple congenital anomalies 759 4 - - 4 0.93 3 0.69
Total deaths due to congenital anomalies 740-759 33 11 14 58 13.52 24 5.56
Perinatal complications
Maternal conditions not related to pregnancy 760 1 - - 1 0.23 10 2.32
Complications of pregnancy, labour and delivery 761,763 9 - - 9 2.10 31 7.18
Complications of placenta, cord and membranes 762 8 - - 8 1.86 74 17.13
Slow fetal growth and fetal malnutrition 764 1 - - 1 0.23 4 0.93
Short gestation and unspecified low birth weight 765 10 - - 10 2.33 9 2.08
Long gestation and high birth weight 766 - - - - - - -
Birth trauma 767 3 1 - 4 0.93 - -
Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia 768 4 1 - 5 1.17 6 1.39
Respiratory conditions of fetus and newborn 769-770 9 5 4 18 4.19 - -
Infections specific to the perinatal period 771 1 1 - 2 0.47 - -
Fetal and neonatal hemorrhage 772 2 - - 2 0.47 1 0.23
Perinatal jaundice/other hematological disorders 773-774, 776 - - - - - - -
Perinatal digestive system disorders 777 - 1 1 2 0.47 - -
Integument and temperature regulation disorders 778 1 - - 1 0.23 4 0.93
Other perinatal conditions3 779 3 - - 3 0.70 103 23.85
Total deaths due to perinatal complications 760-779 52 9 5 66 15.38 242 56.03
Pneumonia/influenza 480-487 1 - - 1 0.23 - -
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)4 798.0 - 1 14 15 3.50 - -
Other causes   6 2 25 33 7.69 13 3.01
TOTAL   92 23 58 173 40.32 279 64.60

Note: 1 Rate per 10,000 live births.
2 Rate per 10,000 total births (live births plus stillbirths).
3 Stillbirths with undetermined cause of death were coded ICD9-779.
4 Some of the infant deaths, which were still under investigation, may later be identified as SIDS.
One infant death (due to multiple congenital anomalies) with gender unknown is included.
Non-residents are excluded.

HIGHLIGHTS TO TABLE 27
  • In 1998, there were 173 infant deaths and 279 stillbirths. This was a substantial decrease (of 14.4% and 16.7%, respectively) compared to 1997 when there were 202 infant deaths and 335 stillbirths. The number of stillbirths has exceeded the number of infant deaths each year since 1991 (see Table 1 and Table 4 for details).

  • Infant deaths due to unknown causes and those under investigation are coded to 799.9 and are shown under Other causes, while undetermined causes of death for stillbirths are coded to 779.9 and are included under Other perinatal conditions.

  • Almost two fifths (38.2%) of the infant deaths (66) and 86.7% of all stillbirths (242) in 1998 were due to perinatal complications. The infant mortality rate for 1998 due to perinatal complications was 15.38 deaths per 10,000 live births, and the stillbirth rate for this cause was 56.03 per 10,000 total births.

  • Congenital anomalies were responsible for one third (33.5%) of infant deaths (58) and one out of every twelve (8.6%) stillbirths (24) in 1998. The infant mortality rate for 1998 due to congenital anomalies was 13.52 deaths per 10,000 live births, and the stillbirth rate was 5.56 per 10,000 total births.

  • Among infant deaths due to congenital anomalies in 1998, the most common cause was anomalies of the heart and circulatory system (24 deaths) followed by chromosomal anomalies (8 deaths). For stillbirths due to congenital anomalies, the most common cause was chromosomal anomalies (13 deaths).

  • Among infant deaths in the neonatal period (age at death less than 28 days), 38.3% (44 out of 115) were due to congenital anomalies. In contrast, in the post neonatal period (age at death 28-364 days), 24.1% of infant deaths (14 out of 58) were due to congenital anomalies.

  • Of the 92 deaths in the early neonatal period (age at death under 7 days), perinatal complications accounted for over half (52 deaths). The most common causes of early neonatal deaths in 1998 were short gestation and unspecified low birth weight (10), respiratory conditions of fetus and newborn (9), and complications of pregnancy, labour and delivery (9).

  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was tied with congenital anomalies as the leading cause of post neonatal deaths in 1998. SIDS and congenital anomalies each accounted for almost one quarter (24.1%) of post neonatal deaths (14 of 58 deaths). In total, there were 15 deaths due to SIDS in 1998, and all but one were in the post neonatal period. The number of SIDS deaths may be under-counted since some deaths, which were under investigation when this report was prepared, may later be coded as SIDS.