Death rates measure the amount of deaths in a population over a given time period, often used to track changes in causes of death and determine health status. Mortality rates can also help patients decide on treatment options and determine life expectancy. Infant mortality rates are used to determine the quality of antenatal and obstetric care in a country. Life tables show the probability of dying each year but do not account for individual factors.
A death rate is the amount of deaths in a given population in a given time period. The rate is commonly expressed in deaths per 100 or 1000 individuals. For example, if in a city of 10,000, 10 people die of the flu, the flu death rate would be one in 1000. Death rates can be based simply on how many die of any cause in a population, or they can be used to describe the death rate of a certain disease or condition.
Death rates have many uses, but are often used to describe the increase or decrease in a cause of death over a long period of time. For example, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) used fatality rates to show that the US traffic fatality rate dropped from nearly 25 per 100,000 to nearly 15 per 100,000 between 1979-2006, while in the same period, deaths from poisoning rose from five to 15 per 100,000. Looking at death rates over time can help health officials understand where to focus prevention and safety efforts and indicate possible trends in death due to factors affecting the population being measured.
In treating disease, a mortality rate can be used to explain the likelihood of survival or death. This information can help patients decide which treatment will give them the best chance of survival. Additionally, if the death rate of a treatment is extremely high, patients may decide it is too dangerous or not worth the risk or pain of the procedure.
The infant and child mortality rate is often used as a factor in determining the health status of a country. A high infant mortality rate indicates poor antenatal and obstetric care and is often found in conjunction with very poor countries or areas. In the United States, infant mortality rates are often broken down by ethnicity or economic background to highlight areas where better care is needed.
A death rate can also be expressed as a death table, also called a life table. Using a generalized table broken down by age, a mortality table shows the mortality rate and probability of dying each year. By looking at a life chart, a healthy person can determine the likelihood of dying before their next birthday. Life tables are highly generalized and do not include individual factors that can increase or decrease the chances of death, such as whether the person smokes, where they live, and whether they have a healthy diet or underlying medical conditions. At best, mortality tables should be regarded as a rough average of probable life span.
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