| Demographic Group: | All resident persons. |
| Numerator: | Deaths with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes C18–C20, C26.0 (ICD-9 codes 153, 154.0, 154.1, 159.0) as the underlying cause of death among residents during a calendar year. |
| Denominator: | Midyear resident population for the same calendar year. |
| Measures of Frequency: | Annual number of deaths. Annual mortality rate — crude and age-adjusted (standardized by the direct method to the year 2000 standard U.S. population based on single years of age from the Census P25-1130 series estimates*) — with 95% confidence interval. |
| Time Period of Case Definition: | Calendar year. |
| Background: | During 2001, cancer of the colon and rectum caused approximately 56,700 deaths and was the second most common cause of cancer death. Approximately 148,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. The mortality rate among men is substantially higher than that among women. |
| Significance: | Early detection with fecal occult blood testing and sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy, treatment of precancerous lesions, and treatment in the early stages of cancer decrease mortality from colon and rectum cancer. Physical activity, healthy diet, and avoidance of overweight might reduce risk. |
| Limitations of Indicator: | Because colon and rectum cancer have a long latency period, years might pass before changes in behavior or clinical practice patterns affect population mortality. |
| Data Resources: | Death certificate data from vital statistics agencies (numerator) and population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census or suitable alternative (denominator).
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/Table.aspx?Group=TableGeo&Year=2001&Display=n |
| Limitations of Data Resources: | Causes of death and other variables listed on the death certificate might be inaccurate. |
| Healthy People 2010 Objectives: | 3-5: Reduce the colorectal cancer death rate. |
