The Boston Public Health Commission’s Office of Research, Health Assessment, and Data Systems calculates age-adjusted mortality rates in its reports on community health status. At the community level, populations in Boston’s neighborhoods vary considerably in age and race/ethnicity distribution. The use of the new 2000 age standard to calculate age-adjusted mortality rates at the community level can affect interpretation of mortality rates.
Analyses: Age-adjusted mortality rates for 1990-1997 were calculated using the 1940 US total population and the new 2000 standard population for all causes of death, by sex, race/ethnicity, neighborhood, and leading causes of death. Charts and maps are used to compare age-adjusted rate trends and geographic patterns using the two standard populations.
Results: Changing to the year 2000 standard population for calculation of age-adjusted rates results in substantially higher rates in Boston, as it does nationally.
Trends in mortality rates at the neighborhood level and also trends in specific causes of death are affected as well, with small peaks in rates being amplified by use of the new standard. This has implications for public health policy and planning at the local level, especially for programs with initiatives for a specific target area.
For Asian/Pacific Islanders use of different standard populations affects trends in mortality, but the change in standard does not affect trends for any other racial/ethnic group in Boston.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, all participants should be able to do the following: 1) Identify potential problems using age-adjusted mortality rates for small areas 2) Better understand how to analyze small area populations in their own community 3) Understand limitations in mapping mortality rates, since using different standard populations show different geographic patterns 4) Gain understanding of methods which may be used to better evaluate mortality in small areas, if the age distribution is significantly different from the standard population
Keywords: Mortality,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.