indirect method of age adjustment to calculate SMR?

The indirect method of age adjustment to calculate Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) involves comparing the observed number of deaths in a specific population to the expected number of deaths in a standard population, taking into account the age distribution of both populations.

Here are the steps involved in the indirect method of age adjustment to calculate SMR:

1. Obtain the number of deaths observed in the specific population of interest. This could be from a specific time period or a specific geographic area.

2. Obtain the age-specific death rates for the standard population. The standard population is typically a reference population with known age-specific death rates, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) World Standard Population.

3. Calculate the expected number of deaths in the specific population by applying the age-specific death rates of the standard population to the age distribution of the specific population. This is done by multiplying the age-specific death rates of the standard population by the corresponding age-specific population counts of the specific population.

4. Calculate the SMR by dividing the observed number of deaths in the specific population by the expected number of deaths in the specific population, and then multiplying by 100. The formula for SMR is: SMR = (Observed deaths / Expected deaths) * 100.

The SMR provides a measure of the relative risk of mortality in the specific population compared to the standard population. An SMR greater than 100 indicates higher mortality in the specific population compared to the standard population, while an SMR less than 100 indicates lower mortality.