Klin Onkol 1996; 9(6): 195-201.
Summary:
A variety of methods can be used for the study of descriptive epidemiology of cancer, i. e. several variables capable of characterising the epidemiological situation are available. It is stressed that a careful selection of a method is necessary for a particular purpose and the results should be correctly interpreted. Otherwise, incorrect conclusions can be reached from the correct data. Generally, the simpler the calculation of a variable, the more demanding its interpretation. A brief description of the most frequent methods (or variables) used for epidemiologic description is given with a demonstration of examples and discussion. Particular attention is paid to methods of age standardization, necessary for comparing the development of disease in time and geographical distribution.
