Trends in enteric disease as a cause of death in the United States, 1989-1996

The authors examined rates of and trends in enteric disease as a cause of death in the United States. The National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death databases for 1989-1996 were analyzed for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes for gastroenteritis due to infectious agents and codes describing illness with other enteric pathogens. The highest rates of death related to enteric diseases were seen among people older than 75 years, followed by children under 1 year of age. Rates increased markedly over time in the 65- to 74-year age group for bacterial enteric pathogens and in the 35- to 44-year age group for viral enteric pathogens. Enteric diseases were the underlying cause of death for an average of 2,740 deaths during each year of this study, and the rate of death due to enteric-related disease is increasing.