Codes and Frequencies
Description
For persons aged 18 and older included in the 1986-2014 NHIS samples and sample adults age 18 and older included in the 2015-2018 NHIS samples who provided sufficient data for linking (MORTELIG) and whose final vital status was judged deceased (MORTSTAT) as of December 31, 2019, MORTDIAB indicates whether, in addition to the leading underlying cause of death (MORTUCODLD ), diabetes was listed as a contributing cause of death. For more information about the methodology to link NHIS records to the NDI, please see the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) report on the NHIS-NDI linkage methods and analytic considerations. Diabetes was classified based on an ICD-9 code of 250 for 1986-1998 and on an ICD-10 code of E10-E14 for 1999 forward.
MORTDIAB is one of a set of mortality variables released by the NCHS as part of the 2019 Linked Mortality File (LMF) update. The 2019 LMF includes mortality information for participants in the 1986-2018 NHIS samples with mortality follow up in the NDI through December 31, 2019. For more information on the LMF, including which variables it offers and the appropriate sampling weights to use when analyzing the mortality data, see the description tab of MORTELIG.
Related Variables
MORTDIAB is one of three multiple cause of death flags that indicate whether specific health conditions were listed as contributing causes of death (in addition to the underlying cause of death). MORTHIPFX, not available for persons participating in the NHIS after 2004 or decedents who died after December 2006, indicates whether hip fracture was listed as a contributing cause of death; and MORTHYPR indicates whether hypertension was listed as a contributing cause of death.
For a list of all mortality variables included in the IPUMS NHIS, please refer to the MORTELIG variable description.
Comparability
Aside from universe changes and the change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes to flag diabetes as a contributing factor, MORTDIAB is largely comparable across years. Between 1986 and 2014, the universe for MORTDIAB included all adults 18 and older. In 2015 and later years, the MORTDIAB universe narrowed to only persons selected to be the sample adult. As noted above, diabetes was classified based on an ICD-9 code of 250 for 1986-1998, and based on an ICD-10 code of E10-E14 for 1999 forward.
For an overview of the LMF data, NHIS-NDI linkage activities, and more information about the public-use LMF offered through IPUMS NHIS, please refer to our user note on the Linked Mortality File.
Universe
- 1986-2014: All persons age 18+ eligible for mortality follow-up and assumed dead with known cause of death (MORTUCODLD).
- 2015-2018: Sample adults age 18+ eligible for mortality follow-up and assumed dead with known cause of death (MORTUCODLD).
Availability
- 1986-2018
