For single data years: Death rates are calculated based on the resident population of the United States for the data year involved. For census years (e.g. 2010), population counts enumerated as of April 1 are used. For all other years, population's estimates as of July 1 are used. Postcensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for years after a census year and match the data year vintage (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011 are used as the denominator for 2011 rates). Intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for the years between censuses (e.g. 1991-1999, 2001-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

For multiple data years: Death rates are calculated based on the sum of the resident populations for each of the data years involved (e.g. the denominator of a rate for 2010-2012 combined is the sum of the population estimates for 2010, 2011, and 2012). For census years (e.g. 2010), population counts enumerated as of April 1 are used. For all other years, population's estimates as of July 1 are used. Postcensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for years after a census year and match the data year vintage (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011 are used as the denominator for 2011 rates). Intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for the years between censuses (e.g. 1991-1999, 2001-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

1. Total: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
2. Sex: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
3. Race/Ethnicity: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
4. Country of Birth: <5, 5-17, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
5. Geographic Location: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
6. Marital Status: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+

Age-adjustment Definition

This information is relevant only for tables containing age-adjusted cancer rates. An age-adjusted rate is a weighted average of the age-specific (crude) rates, where the weights are the proportions of persons in the corresponding age groups of a standard population. The potential confounding effect of age is reduced when comparing age-adjusted rates computed using the same standard population. Several sets of standard population data are included in SEER*Stat. These include the 2000 US standard population as well as standard millions for the US population (1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000), the 1991 Canadian population, the European population, and the world population (see 2000 US Standard Population vs. Standard Million for more discussion). Detailed explanation can be found on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website.

Important Note

This note refers to tables which contain data for cancer death counts and rates by age and race. Some variables in these tables contain data about cancer incidence only for a small number of counties. This is mainly the case for some age groups (for example Population Under 18 Years) and the reason for this is the fact that cancer rates are generally low for this age group. In the other case, some races and ethnic groups which are not widely distributed across the United States or their population is relatively small (for example American Indian or Alaska Native) have small cancer death counts and cancer rate estimates based on fewer than 20 deaths are considered unreliable and are not displayed. This is a general not to underline why some reports and maps are sparse.

For single data years: Death rates are calculated based on the resident population of the United States for the data year involved. For census years (e.g. 2010), population counts enumerated as of April 1 are used. For all other years, population's estimates as of July 1 are used. Postcensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for years after a census year and match the data year vintage (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011 are used as the denominator for 2011 rates). Intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for the years between censuses (e.g. 1991-1999, 2001-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

For multiple data years: Death rates are calculated based on the sum of the resident populations for each of the data years involved (e.g. the denominator of a rate for 2010-2012 combined is the sum of the population estimates for 2010, 2011, and 2012). For census years (e.g. 2010), population counts enumerated as of April 1 are used. For all other years, population's estimates as of July 1 are used. Postcensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for years after a census year and match the data year vintage (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011 are used as the denominator for 2011 rates). Intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations for the years between censuses (e.g. 1991-1999, 2001-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

At the National level this Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

1. Total: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
2. Race/Ethnicity: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
3. Country of Birth: <5, 5-17, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+
4. Geographic Location: <1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+
5. Marital Status: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+

Age-adjustment Definition

This information is relevant only for tables containing age-adjusted cancer rates. An age-adjusted rate is a weighted average of the age-specific (crude) rates, where the weights are the proportions of persons in the corresponding age groups of a standard population. The potential confounding effect of age is reduced when comparing age-adjusted rates computed using the same standard population. Several sets of standard population data are included in SEER*Stat. These include the 2000 US standard population as well as standard millions for the US population (1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000), the 1991 Canadian population, the European population, and the world population (see 2000 US Standard Population vs. Standard Million for more discussion). Detailed explanation can be found on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website.

Important Note

This note refers to tables which contain data for cancer death counts and rates by age and race. Some variables in these tables contain data about cancer incidence only for a small number of counties. This is mainly the case for some age groups (for example Population Under 18 Years) and the reason for this is the fact that cancer rates are generally low for this age group. In the other case, some races and ethnic groups which are not widely distributed across the United States or their population is relatively small (for example American Indian or Alaska Native) have small cancer death counts and cancer rate estimates based on fewer than 20 deaths are considered unreliable and are not displayed. This is a general not to underline why some reports and maps are sparse.

For single data years: Death rates are calculated based on the resident population of the data year involved. For census years, April 1 census counts are used (e.g. 2010). For postcensal years, July 1 estimates from the postcensal Vintage that matches the data year are used (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011 are used as the denominator for 2011 rates). For intercensal years, intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations (e.g. 1991-1999, 2001-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

For multiple data years: Death rates are calculated based on the sum of the resident populations for each of the data years involved (e.g. the denominator of a rate for 2010-2012 combined is the sum of the population estimates for 2010, 2011, and 2012). For census years, April 1 census counts are used (e.g. 2010). For postcensal years, July 1 estimates from the postcensal Vintage that matches the data year are used (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011). For intercensal years, intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations (e.g. 1991-1999, 2000-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

At the National level this Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

1. Total: 1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+

Estimates based on fewer than 20 deaths are considered unreliable and are not displayed.

Age-adjustment Definition

This information is relevant only for tables containing age-adjusted cancer rates. An age-adjusted rate is a weighted average of the age-specific (crude) rates, where the weights are the proportions of persons in the corresponding age groups of a standard population. The potential confounding effect of age is reduced when comparing age-adjusted rates computed using the same standard population. Several sets of standard population data are included in SEER*Stat. These include the 2000 US standard population as well as standard millions for the US population (1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000), the 1991 Canadian population, the European population, and the world population (see 2000 US Standard Population vs. Standard Million for more discussion). Detailed explanation can be found on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website.

Important Note

This note refers to tables which contain data for cancer death counts and rates by age and race. Some variables in these tables contain data about cancer incidence only for a small number of counties. This is mainly the case for some age groups (for example Population Under 18 Years) and the reason for this is the fact that cancer rates are generally low for this age group. In the other case, some races and ethnic groups which are not widely distributed across the United States or their population is relatively small (for example American Indian or Alaska Native) have small cancer death counts and cancer rate estimates based on fewer than 20 deaths are considered unreliable and are not displayed. This is a general not to underline why some reports and maps are sparse.

For single data years: Death rates are calculated based on the resident population of the data year involved. For census years, April 1 census counts are used (e.g. 2010). For postcensal years, July 1 estimates from the postcensal Vintage that matches the data year are used (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011 are used as the denominator for 2011 rates). For intercensal years, intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations (e.g. 1991-1999, 2001-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

For multiple data years: Death rates are calculated based on the sum of the resident populations for each of the data years involved (e.g. the denominator of a rate for 2010-2012 combined is the sum of the population estimates for 2010, 2011, and 2012). For census years, April 1 census counts are used (e.g. 2010). For postcensal years, July 1 estimates from the postcensal Vintage that matches the data year are used (e.g. July 1, 2011 resident population estimates from Vintage 2011). For intercensal years, intercensal population estimates are used in rate calculations (e.g. 1991-1999, 2000-2009). Race-specific population estimates for 1991 and later use bridged-race categories.

This Indicator uses the following age-adjustment groups:

1. Total: 1, 1-4, 5-14, 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+

Estimates based on fewer than 20 deaths are considered unreliable and are not displayed.

Age-adjustment Definition

This information is relevant only for tables containing age-adjusted cancer rates. An age-adjusted rate is a weighted average of the age-specific (crude) rates, where the weights are the proportions of persons in the corresponding age groups of a standard population. The potential confounding effect of age is reduced when comparing age-adjusted rates computed using the same standard population. Several sets of standard population data are included in SEER*Stat. These include the 2000 US standard population as well as standard millions for the US population (1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000), the 1991 Canadian population, the European population, and the world population (see 2000 US Standard Population vs. Standard Million for more discussion). Detailed explanation can be found on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website.

Important Note

This note refers to tables which contain data for cancer death counts and rates by age and race. Some variables in these tables contain data about cancer incidence only for a small number of counties. This is mainly the case for some age groups (for example Population Under 18 Years) and the reason for this is the fact that cancer rates are generally low for this age group. In the other case, some races and ethnic groups which are not widely distributed across the United States or their population is relatively small (for example American Indian or Alaska Native) have small cancer death counts and cancer rate estimates based on fewer than 20 deaths are considered unreliable and are not displayed. This is a general not to underline why some reports and maps are sparse.

The CCW data files were designed to facilitate research across the continuum of care, using data files that could be easily merged and analyzed by beneficiary. Each beneficiary in the CCW is assigned a unique, unidentifiable link key, which allows researchers to easily merge data files and perform relevant analyses across different claim types, enrollment files, Part D event data, assessment data, and other CCW file types. CCW data files are available upon request from CMS. While the file record layouts provided below are the standard file record layouts for all CCW data requests, data may be requested for a variety of cohorts (e.g., specific to a research study design, national 5% sample, specific state or other demographic, etc.).

The CCW claims data files have been streamlined to include only those variables determined by CMS to be of value and useful for research or analytic purposes. The data files delivered from the CCW contain a subset of the original source files. Variables used infrequently or not applicable to a particular setting have been removed. The file record layouts listed below provide variable descriptions, variable format, and length for those variables included in the CCW data files. For additional information regarding data file availability, please refer to the ResDAC website.

CCW condition flag documentation is posted at http://www.ccwdata.org/data-dictionaries/index.htm

HRR documentation is posted at http://www.dartmouthatlas.org/downloads/methods/geogappdx.pdf