Term: Rate

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2013-10-04

Definition:

The number of events or people with a given condition or procedure, divided by the number of people living in that area; often expressed as a rate per 1000 residents (for less frequent events). Rates are helpful in determining the burden of disease and/or the number of residents with a condition or have experienced an event. This is in contrast to adjusted rates, which statistically adjust the rates to arrive at an estimate of what an area's rate might have been if the local population's age and sex distribution was the same as that for the entire province. Rates can potentially be affected by the age and sex distribution of an area; hence most rates are adjusted for fair comparisons between areas.

Related terms 

• Adjusted
• Adjusted Rates
• Direct Standardization of Rates
• Hospital Utilization
• Rate Ratios
• Total Mortality Rate

References 

• Brownell M, Chartier M, Santos R, Ekuma O, Au W, Sarkar J, MacWilliam L, Burland E, Koseva I, Guenette W. How are Manitoba's Children Doing? Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C, Koseva I, Rajotte L. Who is in our Hospitals.and why? Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)

Term used in 

• Chartier M, Finlayson G, Prior H, McGowan K, Chen H, de Rocquigny J, Walld R, Gousseau M. Health and Healthcare Utilization of Francophones in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Katz A, Martens P, Chateau D, Bogdanovic B, Koseva I, McDougall C, Boriskewich E. Understanding the Health System Use of Ambulatory Care Patients. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] (View)