Appendix A - Technical Notes :  This appendix provides two sets of technical notes. The first set describes statistical terms and related analytic conventions used in The Health of Washington State, 2007.

Appendix B - Primary Data Sources : Most chapters in The Health of Washington State present data from data systems maintained by the Washington State Department of Health. Brief descriptions of the major data system used in this report follow.

Appendix C - Primary cause/diagnosis vs. multiple cause/diagnosis: These tables contrast data analyses where the primary cause or diagnosis (the first listed diagnosis in hospitalization data, termed "underlying cause" in mortality data) is used alone, versus data analyses where all listed causes or diagnoses are used together. Some conditions, such as diabetes, show substantial differences due to the fact that they act as precursors to chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease or stroke

Readers need to review this appendix carefully. Accurate interpretation of data depends on understanding the strengths and limitations of the data systems.