ABSTRACT
The rank order for the spectrum of death causes of non-war wounds had changed significantly among troops at a certain area in China from 1950 to 1986. In 1980s, the chief death causes were malignant tumors,accidents and acute infectious diseases, respectively. When the rank order among the troops was compared with that among the citizens at the same area during this period, we have found that the former was similar to the latter for malignant tumors,but the former was higher for accidents and acute infectious diseases, and lower for cerebrovascular diseases, heart diseases and tuberculosis of lungs than the latter. Hepatitis and leukemia made up a high proportion of death cases in≤29 years age group, and lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, cirrhosis and coronary heart disease in ≥40 years age group. So it indicates that the focal point of surveillance for diseases should be different between these two age groups in the medical work and health examination in future. The mean age of death for accidents was 24.92 years, and 83.30% of the subjects belonged to≤29 years age group, which shows that special attention shouldbe given to the prevention of accidents in this age group.