Relative Survival Rate Calculator
Understanding Relative Survival Rate
The Relative Survival Rate is a standard metric used in epidemiology and oncology to estimate the probability of cancer survival after adjusting for normal life expectancy. Unlike the observed survival rate, which looks at all causes of death, the relative survival rate attempts to isolate the excess mortality caused by the specific disease.
Why Calculate Relative Survival?
When analyzing survival statistics for a specific disease, researchers need to account for the fact that people die from other causes (heart disease, accidents, old age). This is particularly important when studying diseases that affect older populations.
Relative survival provides a more accurate picture of the disease's prognosis by comparing the survival of patients to that of the general population with similar demographic characteristics (age, sex, year, and race).
The Formula
The calculation uses a ratio of two percentages:
- Observed Survival Rate: The percentage of patients in the study cohort who are still alive after a specific period (e.g., 5 years).
- Expected Survival Rate: The percentage of people in the general population of the same age and sex who are expected to be alive after that same period, derived from life tables.
Calculation Example
Consider a clinical study of prostate cancer patients with the following data:
- Observed Survival: 85% of the patients were alive 5 years after diagnosis.
- Expected Survival: Based on actuarial life tables for men of the same age, 92% were expected to survive 5 years naturally.
Calculation: (85 ÷ 92) × 100 = 92.39%
This means that patients with this specific cancer have 92.39% of the survival probability compared to the general population. It isolates the cancer-related survival from other causes of death.
Interpreting the Results
A relative survival rate of 100% suggests that the mortality of the patient group is identical to that of the general population, implying the disease has no effect on lifespan during that interval. A rate lower than 100% indicates excess mortality due to the disease.