Knowra Mortality Mortality Mortality is the occurrence of death in a population over a specified period. It is measured by counting deaths or relating them to the population at risk.
Death : The irreversible cessation of the biological functions that sustain an organism. Mortality counts deaths, but the criteria for recording one must be defined.
Crude death rate : The number of deaths in a population during a period divided by its population, often expressed per 1,000 people. It is the simplest summary of mortality, but it is sensitive to age composition.
Life expectancy : The average years a person would live if current age-specific mortality rates remained constant. It translates a population's mortality schedule into an intuitive summary of lifespan.
Morbidity : The presence or burden of illness in a population. Mortality counts deaths, whereas morbidity tracks illness among people who may survive.
Population : A set of individuals defined by shared characteristics, location, or membership in a group. A mortality measure is meaningful only when its population is specified.
Age-specific mortality rate : A mortality rate calculated for a defined age group during a specified period. Separating ages reveals risks that a single population-wide rate can obscure.
Infant mortality rate : The number of deaths before age one per 1,000 live births in a specified period. It tracks a sensitive outcome shaped by maternal, neonatal, and social conditions.
Incidence : The occurrence of new cases of a condition in a population over time. Incidence measures new disease events, not deaths, though it can inform later mortality.
Person-time : A measure of time contributed by individuals while they are at risk of an event. It provides a denominator when people contribute different amounts of follow-up time.
Age standardization : A method that adjusts rates to a common age distribution for comparison. It helps distinguish mortality differences from differences in population age structure.
Show all 20