Fulfillment index analysis on the main causes of death among residents in Wenling, Zhejiang, 2008

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of the cause of death on the residents life expectancy. MethodsFulfillment index analysis, introduced by Prifhis Das Gupta and colleagues, was employed to summarize the data on causes of death of residents in Wenling city, Zhejiang Province in 2008. ResultsThe greatest impact on potential years of life was exerted by neonatal diseases and congenital anomalies in the 0-year-old group, the Fulfillment index being 54.40 and 47.86, respectively; high Fulfillment index was also noticed when accidental deaths were excluded among 1- to 39-year-olds, reaching up to 65.69 in the 20-year-old group, followed by a downward trend. The Fulfillment index remained high in the 40- to 69-year-old age group, deaths due to malignant tumors excluded, and declined after the age of 70. Annually gradual increase of the Fulfillment index was seen associated with cerebrovascular diseases in the age group older than 35, which slightly declined after the age of 80. The index, when related to respiratory diseases and heart attacks, also generally increased every year since the age of 45. ConclusionFulfillment index could be utilized to interpret the extent to which a variety of causes of death exert an impact on the longevity in each age group, eliciting the remarkably crucial period for possible control and prevention of certain diseases in order to improve the life of the residents.