Standardisation

Ill-health, disease and risk factors within a particular population will depend on the age and gender structure of that population (as well as many other factors such as deprivation). Generally, standardised rates are age-standardised or age-genderstandardised, but rates can also be standardised to other differences within the populations. The standardised rate is adjusted (usually for age and gender) so that the rate refers to a rate relative to a ‘standard’ population. If numerous rates are adjusted to the same standard population then this makes it possible to compare the rates.