Grant Description:
Among U.S. adults with developmental disabilities, the erroneous coding of the developmental disability as underlying cause of death obscures alarmingly high rates of mortality from choking and Alzheimer disease and related dementias. This study will systematically assess whether misclassification errors are disproportionately found among certain sociodemographic subgroups of decedents, when certain comorbid diseases or injuries are present at the time of death, and across certain U.S. state contexts. Results will inform strategies aimed at eliminating erroneous coding in order to better understand and reduce mortality among this historically disadvantaged population.