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.dat5/10/2026CT+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%
0No59,02236.5
1Yes102,78663.5
DEATHALLDY - Days enrollment to All Discovered Death
Col 3

Days enrollment to All Discovered Death

NMissingMinMaxMeanStdDev
102,78659,022111,7136,874.4982,536.558
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 12419,66512.2
2National Death Index76,06547
10Initial report of death - form 1201,6391
Missing59,02236.5%
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 Cancer2,5331.6
2Ovarian Cancer1,2660.8
3Endometrial Cancer3640.2
4Colon Cancer1,5451
5Rectosigmoid Cancer500
6Rectum Cancer1680.1
7Uterine Cancer2360.1
8Other Cancer Death7270.4
9Unknown Cancer Site9330.6
10Lung Cancer4,4722.8
11Definite CHD3,5912.2
12Cerebrovascular8,0525
13Pulmonary Embolism4060.3
14Possible CHD8,5805.3
18Other Cardiovascular12,6087.8
19Unknown Cardiovascular1280.1
21Homicide370
22Accident2,5421.6
23Suicide840.1
28Other Injury650
31Alzheimers7,9054.9
32COPD3,8242.4
33Pneumonia2,1771.3
34Pulmonary Fibrosis1,0050.6
35Renal Failure1,7881.1
36Sepsis2,1611.3
37Pancreas1,9701.2
38Lymphoma (NHL only)1,0480.6
39Leukemia1,0070.6
40Brain Cancer5180.3
41Multiple Myeloma6380.4
42Dementia NOS7,9314.9
43ALS3180.2
44Parkinson's1,5601
45Hepatic Cirrhosis4050.3
46COVID-192050.1
88Known Other Cause14,6989.1
99Unknown Cause1,3270.8
100Unknown Cause (Not yet adj)3230.2
103Accessory Sinus Cancer110
106Adrenal Gland Cancer170
109Anus Cancer410
112Appendix Cancer150
115Base Of Tongue Cancer10
118Biliary Tract Cancer1580.1
121Bladder Cancer4270.3
124Bone-Limb Cancer70
127Bone-Non Limb Cancer310
133Central Nervous System Cancer50
136Cervix Cancer700
139Connective Tissue Cancer1650.1
142Endocrine Glands Cancer40
145Esophagus Cancer2190.1
148Eye and Adnexa Cancer130
151Floor Of Mouth Cancer30
154Gallbladder Cancer1410.1
157Genital Organ Cancer790
160Gum Cancer 20
163Heart Cancer 50
166Hypopharynx Cancer10
169Kidney Cancer3720.2
172Larynx Cancer230
178Liver Cancer4730.3
181Lymph Node Cancer60
187Lymphoma, Hodgkins400
190Melanoma2520.2
193Meninges Cancer110
202Nasal Cavity Mid Ear Cancer40
205Nasopharynx Cancer80
208Oral (Mouth) Cancer300
211Oropharynx Cancer170
214Other Digestive Cancer560
220Other Lip Cancer120
223Palate Cancer50
229Parotid Gland,Stensens Cancer180
232Peripheral Nerves Cancer10
235Peritoneum Cancer1440.1
241Renal Pelvis Cancer180
244Salivary Glands Cancer60
247Small Intestine Cancer720
250Stomach Cancer3070.2
253Thymus Cancer 60
256Thyroid Cancer800
259Tongue Cancer490
262Tonsil Cancer100
265Trachea Cancer10
271Ureter Cancer280
274Urinary Organs Cancer210
280Vagina Cancer330
283Vulva Cancer730
Missing59,02236.5%
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 subclass90,77156.1
2Form 124 ICD code10,3766.4
3Form 120 subclass1,6391
Missing59,02236.5%
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
161,8080111,8028,263.3082,739.496
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
161,808016,1804,815.897919.45
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
91,11670,692
DTHAUTOPSY - F124 Was Autopsy Performed
Col 10

Was an autopsy performed?

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No21,06113
1Yes8620.5
9Unknown78,68048.6
Missing61,20537.8%
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%
0No90,81656.1
1Yes9,8096.1
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No100,18761.9
1Yes4380.3
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No77,32747.8
1Yes23,29814.4
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No99,84061.7
1Yes7850.5
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No100,46662.1
1Yes1590.1
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No99,63861.6
1Yes9870.6
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No90,00355.6
1Yes10,6226.6
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No24,50315.1
1Yes76,12247
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No100,56362.1
1Yes620
Missing61,18337.8%
DTHOTHERDOC - F124 Documentation used - other
Col 20

Documentation used for death adjudication: Other

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
0No95,61659.1
1Yes5,0093.1
Missing61,18337.8%
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%
0No11,4957.1
1Yes5490.3
Missing149,76492.6%
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%
0No11,1136.9
1Yes9310.6
Missing149,76492.6%
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%
0No11,9057.4
1Yes1390.1
Missing149,76492.6%
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%
0No11,9477.4
1Yes970.1
Missing149,76492.6%
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%
0No1,5401
1Yes10,5046.5
Missing149,76492.6%
DTHCORSUBCLASS - F124 Coronary Subclass
Col 26

Coronary death subclassification:

Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
1Definite fatal MI5520.3
2Definite fatal CHD8820.5
3Possible fatal CHD10,6106.6
Missing149,76492.6%
DTHCORTIMING - F124 Coronary Death Timing
Col 27
Usage Notes:

Not on early versions of form 124

ValueDescriptionN%
1Sudden death w/in one hr6010.4
2Rapid death w/in 1 - 24 hrs4090.3
3Other coronary death (not sudden/rapid)11,0266.8
Missing149,77292.6%