DATA FORMAT AND VARIABLE DEFINITION The attached record layout provides documentation of variables, variable categories, and variable location on the multiple cause-of-death public-use datas. It is noted that the following material, while used in the processing of mortality data, is not included in this package: A. Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and the Cause-of-Death, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) Volumes 1 and 2. B. NCHS Instruction Manual Data Preparation Part 2a, Vital Statistics Instructions for Classifying the Underlying Cause-of-Death, 1995. C. NCHS Instruction Manual Data Preparation, Part 2b, Vital Statistics Instructions for Classifying Multiple Cause-of-Death, 1995. D. NCHS Instruction Manual Data Preparation, Part 2c, Vital Statistics ICD-9 ACME Decision Tables for Classifying Underlying Causes-of-Death, 1995. E. NCHS Instruction Manual Data Preparation, Part 2d, Vital Statistics NCHS Procedures for Mortality Medical Data System File Preparation and Maintenance, Effective 1979. F. NCHS Instruction Manual Data Tabulation, Part 2f, Vital Statistics ICD-9 TRANSAX Disease Reference Tables for Classifying Multiple Causes-of-Death, 1982-95. G. NCHS Instruction Manual Data Preparation, Part 4, Vital Statistics Demographic Classification and Coding Instructions for Death Records, 1995. H. NCHS Instruction Manual Tabulation, Part 11, Vital Statistics Computer Edits for Mortality Data, Effective 1990. These documents describe in detail the rules employed for demographic and medical classification on death records. Volumes 1 and 2 of the ICD-9 may be purchased from WHO Publication Center USA, 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, New York, 12210. The remaining documents (Items B-H), while not absolutely essential to the proper interpretation of the data for a number of general applications, should nevertheless be studied carefully prior to any detailed analysis of demographic or medical data variables. In particular, there are a number of exceptions to the ICD rules in multiple cause-of-death coding which, if not treated properly, may result in faulty analysis of the data. Users who do not already have access to these documents may request them from the Chief, Data Preparation Branch, Division of Data Processing, National Center for Health Statistics, P.O.Box 12214, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709. In addition, the user should refer to the Technical Appendices of the Vital Statistics of the United States for information on the source of data, coding procedures, quality of the data, etc. Technical Appendix information is enclosed. - 1 -