Age standardized incidence, Age standardized incidences

In terms of the German Childhood Cancer Registry of the Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center Mainz:
To compare incidences between different regions (for example between West and East Germany) or over time, age standardized incidences are used. If the age structure between the comparative regions or over time (for example after the reunification in East Germany) is significantly different or changing and the disease rate of cancer strongly depends on age, a direct comparability of the raw incidences is not given. The instrument which warrants such a comparability, is the standardization, by means of which the incidence rates are converted to an artificial age structure (standardized).
The standardization used by the Childhood Cancer Registry is based on the population of West Germany under 15 years at the last population census in 1987 and on the SEGI-world population. The age standardized incidence indicates the disease rate in a specific time period, which would be expected in the considered population, if the age structure would agree with the standard population.
Represented are average incidences of 10 year periods, to describe better the chronological development of cancer in children. This is done because cancer diseases in children are rare occurrences and therefore few diseases can lead to significant fluctuations in the incidence rates.

Selected information about Age standardized incidence:

Tables:

• Childhood cancer (age-standardized incidence), e.g. by region
• Childhood cancer (age-standardized incidence), e.g. by sex and type of standardization
• Childhood cancer (age-standardized incidence), time series from 1980

Data Sources:

• German Childhood Cancer Registry (GCCR)

Definitions:

• Age standardization
• Cumulative Incidence
• Incidence
• SSR
• Standardized incidence ratio (SIR)
• VSSR

Further information can be found on the topic or keyword search.