Objective To analyze the distribution and change of major death cause of residents in Lanzhou city for health promotion.

Method The death cause data was collected from the disease surveillance system of Lanzhou CDC in 2014-2015.

Results A total of 11 031 and 13 494 death cases were reported in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The death rate was higher in male than that of female, and there was a positive correlation of death rate with age. Compared with that in 2014, the death rate of aged population was increased in 2015. Cardiovascular diseases, tumors, respiratory system diseases, endocrine system diseases, as well as injuries and poisonings were the first five death causes. The constituent ratio of death caused by cardiovascular diseases and endocrine system diseases were increased in 2015 compared with those in 2014, while injuries and poisonings was decreased (P < 0.05). The rank order of death cause in the male and female were all the same with the total rank order in these two years. The first death cause of population in (0~14) year-old was certain conditions originating in the perinatal period, in (15~44) year-old was injuries and poisonings and in over 60 year-old was cardiovascular diseases. The death rate was the highest in the spring. Compared with the death rate in 2014, the cardiovascular diseases was higher in the summer, while injuries and poisonings was lower in 2015 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions Chronic diseases were the major cause of death. However, there were significant differences on the death cause of proportion with different sees and ages and in different seasons.