Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

Which mortality measure is best for determining the proportion of all deaths caused by heart disease?

1. Case fatality

2. Cause-specific mortality rate

3. Crude mortality rate

4. Proportionate mortality ratio

The correct answer is: Proportionate mortality ratio

The best measure for determining the proportion of all deaths caused by heart disease is the proportionate mortality ratio. This metric specifically focuses on the portion of total deaths that can be attributed to a particular cause, in this case, heart disease. The proportionate mortality ratio is calculated by dividing the number of deaths due to heart disease by the total number of deaths in a population, then multiplying by 100 to create a percentage. This allows for a clear understanding of how much heart disease contributes to overall mortality, making it an effective tool for assessing the impact of heart disease in the context of total mortality. Other measures, such as case fatality rate, typically focus on the lethality of a specific disease among those diagnosed with it, rather than the overall proportion of deaths. The cause-specific mortality rate captures the rate of deaths due to a particular cause per population at risk but does not provide context in relation to all deaths. The crude mortality rate reflects the overall mortality in a population without breaking it down by cause, which means it wouldn’t provide insight into the specific contribution of heart disease to total mortality. Thus, the proportionate mortality ratio specifically addresses the need to understand the significance of heart disease in the broader context of mortality.