This document can be used to prepare or evaluate feasibility of ancillary study proposals and paper proposals, but is NOT intended for publication.

Death Outcome Details (Form 124/120), Including All Discovered Deaths

File NameData as ofPopulationData collectedOne row perRows
outc_death_all_discovered_inv.dat2/15/2025CT+OSMain, Ext1, Ext2Participant161,808

This file includes all reported deaths regardless of consent. Summary of National Death Index Data

ID - WHI Participant Common ID
Col 1
NMissingMinMaxMeanStdDev
161,8080100,001299,999199,984.74657,687.336
DEATHALL - All Discovered Death
Col 2

Any report of death, regardless of consent status.

Usage Notes:

This variable, unlike the DEATH variable, does not censor deaths that occur after the participants's last consent period. Death was adjudicated for CT and OS participants through Ext1. In Ext2, death is only adjudicated for the Medical Record Cohort (MRC). Non MRC cause of death is determined by the initial cause of death form (form 120) and is augmented by NDI search (https://www-whi-org.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/Summary-of-National-Death-Index-Data.pdf). See the DEATHALLSRC variable for details about the death adjudication process.

ValueDescriptionN%
0No65,89940.7
1Yes95,90959.3
DEATHALLDY - Days enrollment to All Discovered Death
Col 3

Days enrollment to All Discovered Death

NMissingMinMaxMeanStdDev
95,90965,899111,2786,627.4162,442.795
DEATHALLSRC - All Discovered Death ascertainment source
Col 4
Usage Notes:

During the core WHI study, central adjudications of Death were only done in the CT. In Ext1 deaths were centrally adjudicated for all participants. In Ext2, death is only adjudicated for the Medical Record Cohort (MRC). Non MRC cause of death is determined by the initial cause of death form (form 120) and is augmented by NDI search (https://www-whi-org.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/Summary-of-National-Death-Index-Data.pdf).

ValueDescriptionN%
0Local adjudication - form 1245,4173.3
1Central adjudication - form 12419,03711.8
2National Death Index68,12742.1
10Initial report of death - form 1203,3282.1
Missing65,89940.7%
DEATHALLCAUSE - Cause of All Discovered Death
Col 5
Usage Notes:

"Unknown cause (not yet adj)" (code 100) are reported deaths that have not been adjudicated either because the adjudication is in process or WHI was unable to get sufficient documentation to perform an adjudication. In Ext2 only MRC deaths are adjudicated. Non MRC cause of death is determined by the initial cause of death form (form 120) and is augmented by NDI search (https://www-whi-org.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/Summary-of-National-Death-Index-Data.pdf). The cause of death values from the form 120 are a subset of the causes of death that can be determined from a form 124.

If the form 124 was marked Other or Unknown cause of death the ICD code was used to determine cause of death (see the UNDRICD variable). A cross tabulation of DEATHCAUSE with UNDRICD should be examined to ascertain which ICD codes are included in each DEATHCAUSE category.

ValueDescriptionN%
1Breast Cancer2,4081.5
2Ovarian Cancer1,2190.8
3Endometrial Cancer3420.2
4Colon Cancer1,4710.9
5Rectosigmoid Cancer470
6Rectum Cancer1540.1
7Uterine Cancer2260.1
8Other Cancer Death7240.4
9Unknown Cancer Site8890.5
10Lung Cancer4,3072.7
11Definite CHD3,4752.1
12Cerebrovascular7,3334.5
13Pulmonary Embolism3850.2
14Possible CHD7,9624.9
18Other Cardiovascular11,2076.9
19Unknown Cardiovascular1320.1
21Homicide360
22Accident2,2971.4
23Suicide850.1
28Other Injury650
31Alzheimers7,2384.5
32COPD3,5682.2
33Pneumonia2,0671.3
34Pulmonary Fibrosis9250.6
35Renal Failure1,6381
36Sepsis2,0381.3
37Pancreas1,8581.1
38Lymphoma (NHL only)1,0000.6
39Leukemia9410.6
40Brain Cancer5010.3
41Multiple Myeloma6120.4
42Dementia NOS7,0954.4
43ALS3140.2
44Parkinson's1,4280.9
45Hepatic Cirrhosis3890.2
46COVID-192060.1
88Known Other Cause13,0478.1
99Unknown Cause2,3061.4
100Unknown Cause (Not yet adj)5730.4
103Accessory Sinus Cancer100
106Adrenal Gland Cancer170
109Anus Cancer380
112Appendix Cancer110
115Base Of Tongue Cancer10
118Biliary Tract Cancer1580.1
121Bladder Cancer3990.2
124Bone-Limb Cancer70
127Bone-Non Limb Cancer270
133Central Nervous System Cancer40
136Cervix Cancer640
139Connective Tissue Cancer1580.1
142Endocrine Glands Cancer40
145Esophagus Cancer2120.1
148Eye and Adnexa Cancer110
151Floor Of Mouth Cancer30
154Gallbladder Cancer1340.1
157Genital Organ Cancer760
160Gum Cancer 20
163Heart Cancer 50
166Hypopharynx Cancer10
169Kidney Cancer3590.2
172Larynx Cancer230
178Liver Cancer4490.3
181Lymph Node Cancer50
187Lymphoma, Hodgkins380
190Melanoma2350.1
193Meninges Cancer110
202Nasal Cavity Mid Ear Cancer30
205Nasopharynx Cancer80
208Oral (Mouth) Cancer280
211Oropharynx Cancer150
214Other Digestive Cancer470
220Other Lip Cancer120
223Palate Cancer40
229Parotid Gland,Stensens Cancer180
232Peripheral Nerves Cancer10
235Peritoneum Cancer1420.1
241Renal Pelvis Cancer170
244Salivary Glands Cancer60
247Small Intestine Cancer690
250Stomach Cancer2920.2
253Thymus Cancer 50
256Thyroid Cancer730
259Tongue Cancer460
262Tonsil Cancer90
265Trachea Cancer10
271Ureter Cancer260
274Urinary Organs Cancer200
280Vagina Cancer300
283Vulva Cancer670
Missing65,89940.7%
DEATHALLCAUSESRC - Cause of All Discovered Death ascertainment source
Col 6
Usage Notes:

Cause of death is usually determined from the form 124 underlying cause of death subclass question. If this question is answered other/unknown and has an ICD code, the cause of death will be determined from the ICD code. In the case of an Ext2 non MRC death, the cause of death comes from the form 120 subclass question and is augmented by NDI search (https://www-whi-org.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/Summary-of-National-Death-Index-Data.pdf).

ValueDescriptionN%
1Form 124 subclass82,50251
2Form 124 ICD code10,0796.2
3Form 120 subclass3,3282.1
Missing65,89940.7%
ENDFOLLOWALLDY - Days enrollment to end of followup (including All Discovered Death)
Col 7

Days enrollment to either the participant's uncensored death date (DEATHALLDY), the last NDI search date for the ppt or ENDFOLLOWDY

Usage Notes:

ENDFOLLOWALLDY should only be used for analyses utilizing All Discovered Death (DEATHALL) during WHI, Ext1 and Ext2.

NMissingMinMaxMeanStdDev
161,8080111,3758,031.1382,545.126
ENDEXT1ALLDY - Days enrollment to the end of Ext1 followup (including All Discovered Death)
Col 8

Days enrollment to either the participant's uncensored death date (DEATHALLDY), the last NDI search date for the ppt or ENDFOLLOWDY censored at the end of Ext1.

Usage Notes:

ENDEXT1ALLDY should only be used for analyses utilizing All Discovered Death (DEATHALL) during WHI and Ext1.

NMissingMinMaxMeanStdDev
161,808016,1804,815.896919.449
UNDRICD - F124 ICD-9/10 CM Code
Col 9

ICD CM code relating to underlying cause of death.

Usage Notes:

These codes come directly from Form 124 – Report of Death. Early versions of form 124 recorded only ICD-9-CM codes, later versions could record ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM codes. The CCC reviewed some of the cases where the cause of death was “unknown” or “other” (values 8, 9, 88 or 99). In cases where a cause of death could be determined, this field has been updated with the corresponding ICD-10-CM code. Note: ICD-10-CM codes include a letter in the first position; ICD-9-CM codes do not. www.icd9data.com provides a handy reference for both version 9 and 10 ICD codes.

NMissing
82,55079,258
DTHAUTOPSY - F124 Was Autopsy Performed
Col 10

Was an autopsy performed?

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No20,52912.7
1Yes8600.5
9Unknown70,64843.7
Missing69,77143.1%
DTHMEDRECS - F124 Documentation used - medical records
Col 11

Documentation used for death adjudication: Medical records documentation

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No82,44451
1Yes9,6155.9
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHAUTOPSYREP - F124 Documentation used - autopsy findings
Col 12

Documentation used for death adjudication: Report of autopsy findings

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No91,62256.6
1Yes4370.3
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHCERT - F124 Documentation used - death certificate
Col 13

Documentation used for death adjudication: Death certificate

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No69,30642.8
1Yes22,75314.1
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHERREC - F124 Documentation used - ER record
Col 14

Documentation used for death adjudication:ER record

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No91,28956.4
1Yes7700.5
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHEMSREP - F124 Documentation used - EMS report
Col 15

Documentation used for death adjudication: EMS report

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No91,90156.8
1Yes1580.1
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHINFINT - F124 Documentation used - informant interview
Col 16

Documentation used for death adjudication: Informant interview

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No91,08656.3
1Yes9730.6
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHF120 - F124 Documentation used - form 120
Col 17

Documentation used for death adjudication: Form 120 – Initial Notification of Death

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No81,90550.6
1Yes10,1546.3
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHNDISRCH - F124 Documentation used - NDI search
Col 18

Documentation used for death adjudication: National Death Index search

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No23,87514.8
1Yes68,18442.1
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHCORREP - F124 Documentation used - coroners report
Col 19

Documentation used for death adjudication: Coroner’s report

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No91,99756.9
1Yes620
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHOTHERDOC - F124 Documentation used - other
Col 20

Documentation used for death adjudication: Other

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No87,17653.9
1Yes4,8833
Missing69,74943.1%
DTHMI - F124 Coronary Death MI
Col 21

Coronary death based on: Hospitalized myocardial infarction within 28 days of death

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No10,7426.6
1Yes5430.3
Missing150,52393%
DTHPREVANGINA - F124 Coronary Death prev Angina, MI or Revasc
Col 22

Coronary death based on: Previous angina, myocardial infarction, or revascularization procedure and no known potentially lethal non-coronary disease process

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124. Revascularizations added after WHI closeout.

ValueDescriptionN%
0No10,3726.4
1Yes9130.6
Missing150,52393%
DTHCHD - F124 Coronary death CHD
Col 23

Coronary death based on: Coronary heart disease (CHD) diagnosed as cause of death at post-mortem examination

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No11,1466.9
1Yes1390.1
Missing150,52393%
DTHCABGPTCA - F124 Coronary Death CABG/PTCA
Col 24

Coronary death based on: Death resulting from a CHD-related procedure, such as coronary bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No11,1886.9
1Yes970.1
Missing150,52393%
DTHOTHER - F124 Coronary death other
Col 25

Coronary death based on: Other (none of the above)

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No1,5160.9
1Yes9,7696
Missing150,52393%
DTHCORSUBCLASS - F124 Coronary Subclass
Col 26

Coronary death subclassification:

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
1Definite fatal MI5450.3
2Definite fatal CHD8710.5
3Possible fatal CHD9,8696.1
Missing150,52393%
DTHCORTIMING - F124 Coronary Death Timing
Col 27
Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
1Sudden death w/in one hr5970.4
2Rapid death w/in 1 - 24 hrs4040.2
3Other coronary death (not sudden/rapid)10,2766.4
Missing150,53193%