Objective To analyze causes of death in hospitalized patients in Jiangmen city and to provide references for developing disease prevention policies.

Methods Data on patients hospitalized in tertiary hospitals in Jiangmen city of Guangdong province from 2009 through 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The causes of deaths among the inpatients were classified according to International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).

Results During the 10-year period for the hospitals surveyed, the total number of hospital discharges was 1 049 595 and the total number of deaths was 7 935, with an average case fatality rate of 0.76%; the case fatality rate decreased yearly and the rate was higher among male inpatients than that among the female inpatients. Of all the hospital deaths, 21.4% and 20.1% were aged 60 – 69 and 70 – 80 years. More hospital deaths occurred in the first quarter of a year and the first cause of death was lung cancer for all the deaths.

Conclusion The change trend in spectrum of death causes should be concerned when developing health care policies.