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Show Glossary Age-adjusted Rate An age-adjusted rate is a summary rate (similar to a weighted mean) that helps control for different age distributions when comparing populations. Age-adjusted rates are calculated by the "direct method," which takes age-specific death rates of a given population for a specified time period and compares those to a standard population for the same age distribution. Age-adjusted rates are typically standardized to the 1940 population. In some cases, rates are standardized to the 1970 population (as noted). Age-adjusted rates are reported per 100,000 population. For example, Utah has a lower percentage of older persons in its population than the general U.S. population. Thus, if crude rates of diseases commonly associated with persons 65+ years of age were compared, Utah's rate would appear lower than the national average. Age-adjustment provides more accurate comparisons than crude rates (see "Crude Rates" below) because they adjust for different distributions. Birth Rate The number of births in a given year per 1,000 population. BRFSS The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey reported annually by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Crude Rate A crude rate is a ratio of the number of cases of a specified disease over the average population for that time period. Crude rates are reported per 100,000 population. General Fertility Rate The number of births per 1,000 women ages 15-44. Incidence "Incidence expresses the probability of or risk of illness in a population over a period of time. Incidence is calculated by dividing the number of new cases of a specified disease occurring in a specific period of time by the average population during the time interval." * Morbidity Rate Rate of disease in a given population. Morbidity rates may be reported as "incidence" rates or "prevalence rates." Mortality Rate Mortality rates are calculated by dividing the number of deaths for a given disease during a specified time period by the average population during the same time interval. Natural Increase The number of births minus the number of deaths. Simple Point Prevalence Count A common research methodology where an instant measurement is used to describe the population. Expressed as a rate for a specified population, simple point prevalence count measures that proportion of a population which exhibit the trait at a particular instant. Prevalence Prevalence means the number of current cases at any given point in time. A prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the total number of cases by the total population figures at a specific point in time. Prevalence rates are not reported in Utah's Health: An Annual Review. Risk Factors Risk factors are behaviors that are thought to create risk of a particular disease for the person engaging in a particular activity (such as substance abuse), or behaviors that risk the health of others (such as physical and sexual abuse). Survey Data In many cases data are reported from various surveys conducted throughout the state or the nation. Surveys usually involve contact with individuals by mail, telephone, or in person and require a process of selecting a representative sub-group of the general population through random or other sampling processes. Surveys Utah Dept. of Health, Division of Community Health. Unpublished Report. Utah's Health: An Annual Review 1995 131 |
