questions:

1. Explain, the difference between crude and age-standardized (or, age-adjusted) mortality rates. Why are age standardized mortality rates, aka age-adjusted mortality rates necessary?

2. If you look at any of the states listed on Table 1, the values of crude mortality rate and age-adjusted mortality rate are different. What might be the reason for this difference?

3. According to the table, thecrude mortality ratefor the state ofAlaskawassubstantially lowerthan the crude mortality rate forFlorida. Yet, theage-adjusted mortality rateforAlaskaturned out to behigherthan the age-adjusted mortality ofFlorida. Based on your understanding of age-adjusted mortality rates, how would you explain this discrepancy?

4. According to the table, thecrude mortalityrate forAlaskawas substantially lower than the crude mortality rate forRhode Island. Yet, theage-adjusted mortality rateforAlaskaturned out to be prettycloseto theage- adjusted mortality rateforRhode Island. Based on your understanding of age-adjusted mortality rates, how would you explain this discrepancy?

5. Say, you are asked to make a very brief presentation comparing mortality data of Rhode Island with that of Florida, or Alaska, or any other state. You are allowed to use any one of the two mortality indicators. That is, you can compare either the crude mortality rates, or the age-adjusted mortality rates, but you cannot use both. In such a situation, which one would you use and why?

6. Can you imagine a situation where the crude mortality rate and the age-adjusted mortality rate would be the same for a particular state? Please explain.

Table 1: Number of deaths, mid-year populations, death rates, and age-adjusted mortality (death) rates for the United States and a few specific states, 2017 (mortality data retrieved from NVSS Reports, Vol 68, No. 9 https://www.cdc.govchs/datavsrvsr68vsr68_09-508.pdf.) Estimated population Age distribution (%) as Total number of Crude mortality Age-adjusted mortality on July 1, 2017 (data of July 1, 2017 (data deaths (due to all- rate (per 100,000 rate (per 100,000 US from census.gov) from US Census Bureau) causes combined) population) standard population) United States 325,000,000 .