This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: Measurement of Mortality and Morbidity, Subject name: Social & Preventive Medicine
Best method to compare vital statistics of two populations - 
Select and explain. 
A. Crude death rate, B. Age specific death rate, C. Age Standardized death rate, D. Multivariatie mortality rate
C: Age Standardized death rate
Answer: C: Age Standardized death rate 
Explanation: Ans. is 'c' i.e., Age standardize death rate o Standardization (or adjustment) of rates is used to unable the valid comparison of groups that differ regarding an important health determinant (most commonly age).o Age adjustment or age standardization removes the confounding effect of different age structures of two different population and yields a single standardized rate, by which the mortality experience can be compared directly.Direct standardizationIndirect standardizationo Age specific death rates of study population are applied to standard populationo Can not be used when age specific death rates are not available. So, following two are requiredi) Population in each are groupii) Number of deaths in each age groupo Age specific death rates of standard population are applied to study populationo Can be used when age specific death rates are not available.