Epidemiologic Measurement

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Epidemiologic Measurement

• Archana McEligot, PhD
• April 11, 2005

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Nature of the National Vital Statistics System

• The National Vital Statistics System is
  decentralized
• There are no laws at the national level requiring
  the collection of vital statistics data
• Statistics that are produced by NCHS or other
  agencies are based on information obtained from
  certificates filed in the States where events
  occur
• Cooperation between NCHS and the States is
  governed by contracts of agreement

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Incidence and Prevalence
What is the relationship between incidence and
prevalence?
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t
Time 1
Time 2
t1
t2
Prevalence (t1)
Incidence
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Mortality Rates
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IMR
IMR An overall index of a Nations Health
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Life Expectancy
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Examples of Specific Rates
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Examples of US Mortality Statistics
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Mortality Statistics

• Mortality statistics are based on information
  from the approximately 2.3 million death
  certificates filed each year in the 50 States and
  the District of Columbia

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The Death Certificate

• A legal document regarding the facts and
  circumstances of a death
• A statistical resource providing information on
  characteristics of the decedent

SOURCE CDC/NCHS
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Underlying Cause of Death

• The disease or injury which initiated the chain
  of morbid events leading directly to death, or
• The circumstances of the accident or violence
  that produced the fatal injury.

SOURCE CDC/NCHS
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Advantages of Underlying Cause of Death

• Simple and one dimensional
• Conceptually easy to understand
• Well-accepted measure of mortality
• Useful to public health officials

SOURCE CDC/NCHS
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Limitations of Underlying Cause of Death

• Only one disease selected
• Arbitrary selection
• Excludes information
• Certifier mistakes
• Only as good as the information on the death
  certificate

SOURCE CDC/NCHS