Instructions for using Step-by-Step Mode:
To go back one step, click "Previous Step" button (not browser "Back Button").
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Jump-to-Page Mode
Instructions for using Jump-to-Page Mode:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Primary Statistic
Sample Statistic Selector
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Rows, Row Sort, Columns, Multi-Tables
Selecting - Click on desired setting, such as "Age" or "Race".
Sample Row, Column, or Multi-Table Selector
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Statistic, Row, Column, and Multi-Table Conflicts
If a conflict between primary statistic and axis variable:
Examples of conflicting settings:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Selecting Data Variables
Under 1 1-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
Sample Data Variable Selector (for Age)
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Selecting Data Variable Groupings
Certain data variables allow different "groupings". For example, 5-year or 10-year age groups.
To change the grouping in actual interface:
Sample Data Grouping Selection
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Other Settings
Other Settings include the following options:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Pie Chart Settings
Pie charts show the parts of a whole.
Ways to customize Vitalnet pie charts:
Note: Pie charts are made ONLY if following conditions met:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Bar Chart Settings
Bar charts compare amounts of different things.
Ways to customize Vitalnet bar charts:
Note: Black and white chart uses hatch and gray-scale patterns.
Note: Bar charts are made ONLY if following conditions met:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Line Chart Settings
Line charts show movement or change.
Ways to customize Vitalnet line charts:
Note: Black and white lines are rendered as dot and dash patterns.
Note: Line charts are made ONLY if following conditions met:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Map Settings
Maps display results geographically.
Ways to customize Vitalnet maps:
Time trend maps require:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Map Color Palettes
Color mix palettes:
Gray scale palettes:
One-color scales:
Two-color scales:
Recommendations for selecting color palette:
References and research used to help design Vitalnet palettes:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Getting Results
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Viewing Results
If graphics do not display in the output, try refreshing the browser.
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Printing Results
To print results from your browser, do one of the following:
If too wide or long:
Spreadsheet or word processor printing:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Saving Results
To save results displayed in a browser, do one of the following:
To save alternate data format, click on footnote links:
To save a map as an image file, minus surrounding text:
Suggestions on naming files:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Glossary
Age-adjusted death rate - Deaths per 100,000 population, adjusted to a standard population (such as US 1940 or US 2000), by the direct method. Age-adjusted rates are often better for making comparisons than unadjusted rates, because they adjust for differences in age distribution between populations. An age-adjusted rate is a summary measure. Besides calculating overall age-adjusted rates, it is also recommended to compare age-specific rates.
Age-adjustment standard - A standard population for calculating an age-adjusted death rate. The 1940 and 2000 US Census population are the most common standards.
Area set - One or more areas combined.
ASCII file - A text file, with only alphabetical, numerical, and punctuation characters, like you would see in normal text. Vitalnet can produce output in ASCII format.
Bar graphs - A section of a Vitalnet table. Gives a useful graphical representation of the data. May be omitted from the output table.
Cause of death - Any condition which leads to or contributes to death and is classifiable according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system.
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US federal health agency.
Cell - A space for a single numerical result in a table, at a row-column intersection.
Cell suppression - An asterisk "*" is placed in cells with fewer deaths than a limit set by the user. Row / column totals with exactly one suppressed cell in the row / column are also suppressed. If more than one cell in the row / column is suppressed, the row / column total is displayed.
Columns - Vertical groupings of data in a Vitalnet table, such as a column for each race group.
Confidence interval (confidence limits) - A range of values within which the true value of a variable is thought to lie, with a specified level of confidence. For a result of 23.5, a confidence interval might be (23.1-23.9). The smaller the interval, the more reliable the result. If the 95% confidence intervals do not overlap, there is a statistically significant difference. Vitalnet uses several methods to calculate confidence intervals. The output table documents which method was used.
Confidence level - The likelihood that the true value of a variable is within a confidence interval. For example, for confidence intervals at the 95% level, we are statistically 95% certain that the actual value of the variable is within the interval.
Councils of Government (COG's) - Groupings of Texas counties. There are 24 COG's.
CSV format - Also called comma-separated-value format. A type of computer output that is readily imported into other software, especially spreadsheet software. Each output item is separated by a comma from surrounding items, and each output text item is surrounded by "double quotes". Vitalnet produces CSV output. A comma-separated-value file has "csv" extension.
Data mining - Finding unexpected relationships in a data set. Similar to exploratory data analysis. Vitalnet is excellent at data mining. Of course, keep in mind that the more you look, the more unusual events you will find, just by chance.
Data warehouse - Software system, such as Vitalnet, making large complex databases readily available for querying and analysis.
dBASE III format - A widely used file format derived from the database software of the same name. Files in this format may be readily imported into almost any data analysis, graphing, mapping, or other presentation software. Has dbf extension. Suppressed cells are represented as the number "-1". Vitalnet produces dBASE III output.
Death rate - Deaths per 100,000 population. May be used to compare the burden of disease between different groups. Also called crude death rate.
Denominator - The number on the bottom of a fraction. Population data are often referred to as "denominator data", as they are used as denominators to calculate population-based rates.
Export - Produce output that can be read into other computer programs. Vitalnet produces ASCII text, comma-separated-value (csv extension), HTML (htm extension), and dBASE III (dbf extension) files for export.
Filter variable - A variable solely used to filter which records are included in the output. For example, for a single table with race rows and sex columns, age is a filter variable.
Footer - Last part of a Vitalnet table. Lists other details of the analysis, such as the date and time produced, and the data sources. Each table is assigned a unique ID, listed in the footer, to assist you in keeping track of and organizing analyses.
Header - First part of a Vitalnet table. Lists basic parameters you selected to define the table, such as years analyzed.
Hepatitis death rate - Number of deaths per 100,000 people at risk. For example, if Smith County has 4 deaths, and 200,000 people, the hepatitis death rate is 2 per 100,000.
Import - Read information into a computer program. ASCII text, CSV files, HTML, and dBASE III files from Vitalnet are easily imported into word processing, spreadsheet, data analysis, mapping, graphing, and other presentation software programs.
Least-squares - A standard method for fitting the best straight line to a set of points. Produces a Y-intercept and a slope defining the least-squares line.
Multiple age groups - One age group for each row or column of a table. Example: Birth-19, 20-39, 40-59, 60-99+.
Multiple cause mortality data - Data which include all causes of death listed on the death certificate. Contrast with underlying cause mortality data.
Multiple causes of death - All diseases or injuries which led directly to death, or all circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury.
NCHS - National Center for Health Statistics. US health statistics agency. Part of the CDC.
PHR - Public Health Region. Groupings of Texas counties. There are 11 PHRs.
Place of occurrence mortality data - Data compiled by the location where the death occurred, without regard to the place of residence of the deceased. Vitalnet does not currently analyze for place of occurrence.
Place of residence mortality data - Data compiled by the usual place of residence of the deceased, without regard to the location where the death occurred. Vitalnet analyzes mortality data by place of residence.
Population - The number of people living in an area.
Primary Statistic - The basic type of numerical result displayed in a table, chart, or map. For example, hepatitis death rate.
Public Health Regions (PHR) - Groupings of Texas counties. There are 11 Public Health Regions.
Rows - Horizontal lines in a Vitalnet table, such as a row for each race group.
Row sort settings - Vitalnet rows may be sorted in ascending or descending order.
Set - A combination of one or more things. For example, several areas may be combined into an area set.
Single age group - Only one age group (30-49, for example) is selected. A single age group is used for tables that do not have age columns or age rows.
Statistic - See "Primary Statistic".
Table - A set of results produced by Vitalnet. A table has several parts:
Underlying cause - The disease or injury that initiated the train of events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury. A single underlying cause is assigned to each death.
Underlying cause mortality data - Data which include only the underlying cause of death listed on the death certificate. Contrast with multiple cause mortality data.
UNIX - A widely used computer operating system. Vitalnet can run on UNIX, either remotely, locally, or by client-server.
Unknown Values - Unknowns are automatically inserted into a Vitalnet table. For example, a separate row (or column) for unknown race. The rate is assigned as zero for an unknown category, since there is no population denominator to use. Some fields, such as sex for certain data sets, are never unknown, so unknowns are left off the table. When, such as for age-adjusted rates, the unknown variable (age) is different from the rows or columns, the number of unknowns for age is shown below the table.
Windows - A widely used set of PC operating systems, including Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT, 2000, and XP. Vitalnet will run under any version of Windows.
World Wide Web (WWW) - A widely used part of the internet that may be easily accessed with a web browser. Vitalnet runs on the WWW.
Years of potential life lost (YPLL) - Sum of the years of life lost by persons who suffered early deaths. Early death is usually defined as death occurring before the age of 65 (the YPLL age limit). For example, death at age 40 (40.5) results in 24.5 YPLL to age 65. YPLL is a widely used measure of premature mortality.
YPLL age limit - The age used for calculating YPLL. The most common age limit is 65, but other age limits may be selected from within Vitalnet.
· Table of Contents · Glossary · County groupings
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Age Adjustment Standards
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Statistical Methods
The "Primary Statistic" (numerical outcome) is the basic type of number in a Vitalnet table. It is best understood by looking at the examples below.
Deaths - The number of deaths. Vitalnet analyzes "underlying cause" mortality data. The "underlying cause" is "the disease or injury that initiated the train of events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury". A single underlying cause is assigned to each death. A separate program, MultiCod, analyzes multiple cause mortality data. Also, Vitalnet uses "place of residence" mortality data. The "place of residence" is the location where the death occurred. The deaths are assigned to the usual county of residence of the deceased, without regard to the location where the death occurred.
Death Rate - Deaths per 100,000 population. This rate may be used to compare the burden of disease between different groups.
Age-Adjusted Rate - The number of deaths per 100,000 population, adjusted to a standard population (such as US 1940), by the direct method. Age-adjusted rates are often better for making comparisons than crude rates, because they adjust for differences in age distribution between populations. An age-adjusted rate is a single summary measure. Be aware that it may mask trends detectable by examining age-specific rates. Age-adjusted rates are synthetic rates that are only useful in comparison with other age-adjusted rates. Age-adjusted rates are used to compare one area or population to another because age distribution is controlled for in the calculations. Age-adjusted rates are not typically calculated for individual age ranges, such as 40-49, and Vitalnet does not do so.
Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) - The sum of the years of life lost by persons who suffered early deaths, used to measure premature mortality. Early death is usually defined as death occurring before the age of 65 (the YPLL age limit). For example, death at age 40 (40.5) results in 24.5 YPLL to age 65.
Age-Adjusted Rate Methodology - 1) Determine age-specific rates in the Study population. 2) Multiply age-specific rates by Standard age-specific populations, such as 1940 US. 3) Sum the results from the previous step. 4) Divide the sum by the total size of the Standard population.
YPLL Methodology - 1) For each death, calculate the difference between the age at death and age 65 (or other chosen limit). For example, death at age 40 (40.5) results in 24.5 YPLL to age 65. 2) Sum the results of the previous step.
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Confidence Intervals
Definition - A "confidence interval" is a range of values within which the true value of a variable is thought to lie, with a certain degree of confidence (80%, 90%, 95%, etc). A "confidence level" is the degree of confidence, such as 95%.
Selection - A larger percentage (such as 99%) is more stringent than a smaller percentage (such as 80%). Use 95% if you are unsure.
Interpretation - The smaller the interval, the more reliable the result. Two results that overlap at the 95% level are less likely to be significantly different than results which don't overlap.
Methods - The method Vitalnet uses to calculate confidence intervals depends on the context. The method is listed in the footnotes to the table.
Z * Rate / Sqrt (Events) - This method is recommended by the NCHS. Technical Appendix of the Vital Statistics of the United States, Vol II, Mortality, Part A
Poisson distribution - This method is valid if events are relatively rare, which usually applies to health events. Scientific Tables, Diem and Lentner (ed), Giegy, 1970, page 189.
· Table of Contents · Glossary · 95% Poisson Confidence Limits
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Data Sources and Limitations
VitalWeb Wizard uses data from authoritative sources.
Mortality data - All Texas mortality data were provided by the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health.
Population data - Pre-1990 population data are from the Center for Health Statistics, Texas Department of Health. Population data for 1990 and subsequent years are from the State Population Center at Texas A&M.
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Links to Related Resources
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Department of State Health Services Contacts
For additional assistance with analyzing and interpreting the data, contact:
· Table of Contents · Glossary · Legal Information
Trademarks - "Discover the future of health data", "We care about your health data", Birtha, Epidemic, Epigram, Medtrend, Multicod, Oncogram, Poptrend, Pregdata, Vitalnet, VitalPro, VitalPro for Unix/Windows, VitalPro for Windows, VitalWeb, VitalWeb Standard, and VitalWeb Wizard are trademarks of Expert Health Data Programming, Inc. (EHDP). Vitalnet® and VitalWeb® are registered trademarks.
Other copyright owners - Vitalnet uses the GD graphics library, and the Ploticus data display engine, under the terms of the copyright owners. GD and Ploticus source code are freely available.
· Table of Contents · Glossary ·
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