Question

Below are some crude cause-specific mortality rates from the two studies.

	Crude mortality rate per 100,000 person-years
	1988-1993	2003-2008
Drug Overdose	80.7	242.1
Substance Use Disorder	54.8	109.5
HIV Disease	280.0	84.0

a. Using both relative and absolute measures of association, compare the three cause-specific mortality rates for the 2003-2008 and 1988-1993 study populations. Use the 1988-1993 study population as the referent group. (Hint, there are three calculations)  

b. Which group had the highest crude cause – specific mortality rate?

c. Which group had the lowest crude cause-specific mortality rate?

Answer 1

a> To compare the cause specific mortalities, we can see that Drug overdose and Substance use mortality has increased in 2003-08 from 1988-93. On the other hand, we can see that the HIV related death has fallen down in 2003-08 compared to 1988-93.

b> Crude cause-specific mortality was highest for HIV in 1988-93 and it was the highest for Drug overdose in 2003-08.

c> Substance Use had the lowest crude-cause specific mortality back in 1988-93. Now, in 2003-08, it is the least for HIV diseases.