Proportional mortality rate (Ratio)

 Proportional mortality rate (Ratio): It is sometimes useful to know what proportion of total deaths are due to a particular cause (e.g., cancer) or what proportion of deaths are occurring in a particular age group (e.g. above the age of 50 years), Proportional mortality rate expresses the "number of deaths due to a particular cause", Thus we have:

Proportional mortality rate is computed usually for a broad disease group (such as communicable diseases as a whole) and for a specific  disease of major public health importance, such as cancer or coronary heart disease in industrialized countries.

     Proportional rates are used when population data are not available. Since proportional mortality rate depends upon two variables, both of which may differ, it is of limited value in making comparison between population groups or different time periods. However, proportional rates are useful indicators within any population group of the relative importance of the specific disease or disease group, as a cause of death. Mortality from communicable disease is especially important as it relates mostly to preventable conditions. Since the prevailing causes of death vary according to age and sex, it is desirable to compute proportionate mortality separately for each age and sex group in order to determine measures directed to particular age-sex groups for the reduction of preventable mortality. Proportional mortality rate does not indicate the risk of members of the population contracting or dying from the disease.