Mortality review. University department of medicine (II) and department of renal medicine, Singapore General Hospital, 1974-75

The mortality pattern at the University Department of Medicine (II) and the Department of Renal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, over the two-year period 1974-75 was studied using data recorded during 'death rounds' and a comparison made with a similar study made previously. This study comprised 886 deaths. 54% of the deaths occurred between the ages of 60 and 79 years, while 12.4% below the age of 40 years. The male to female ratio was 1.8 to 1. A lower proportion of Malay deaths than would be expected from the ethnic distribution in Singapore was noted. The post-mortem rate was 10.3%. 'Strokes', mostly with antecedent hypertension, again emerged as the single largest cause of death, accounting for 212 (23.9%). Cancer deaths accounted for 111 (12.5%). 107 (12.1%) died of acute myocardial infarction and 85 (9.6%) from chronic renal failure. 104 (11.7%) had diabetes mellitus, mainly as a contributory cause. Major causes of young adult deaths included specific infections, 'poisonings', hypertension, rheumatic and ischaemic heart diseases. These are considered potentially preventable and salvable. Compared with the study in 1972-73, there appears to be a decline in the necropsy rate, and a resurgence of malaria in recent years.