Carol Dickinson and Tim Aldrich use information provided by North Carolina Hospitals and the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry to determine the accuracy of both cancer incidence and tumor registries.
After the implementation of the revised birth certificate in North Carolina in 1988, new information was recorded about births. The quality of that information was found to be varied. Some aspects of the information were very accurate, others were less so.
Between 1988 and 1992, infant mortality declined, improving the state's ranking from 49th to 43rd. Further reduction can be achieved if the state's leading causes of infant death, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), can be attacked.
Stroke and coronary heart disease deaths declined statewide during the period 1980-1991. However, substantial differences were noted in rates of decline when comparing gender and race in the 35 and older age group.