Area compatibility factor

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

In survival analysis, the area compatibility factor, F, is used in indirect standardisation of population mortality rates.

<math>F = \frac{\sum_x {}^sE_{x,t}^c {}^sm_{x,t}}{\sum_x {}^sE_{x,t}^c} \left/

\frac{\sum_xE_{x,t}^c {}^sm_{x,t}}{\sum_x E_{x,t}^c}\right.</math>

where:

<math>{}^sE_{x,t}^c</math> is the standardised central exposed to risk from age x to x + t for the standard population,

<math>E_{x,t}^c</math> is the central exposed to risk from age x to x + t for the population under study and

<math>{}^sm_{x,t}</math> is the mortality rate in the standard population for ages x to x + t.

F is then multiplied by the crude mortality rate to arrive at the indirectly standardised mortality rate.