Research & Information Services

Epidemiological Statistics

The WMCIU calculates epidemiological statistics including incidence, mortality, prevalence and relative survival. These data are widely used for health surveillance and research including temporal, geographical, socioeconomic and cohort research studies and collaborative case-control studies to identify risk factors for cancer. Typical examples of the latter are the increased risk of developing bladder cancer in rubber industry workers and mesothelioma in asbestos workers.

Data currently available include incidence 1980-2004, mortality 1981-2004 and relative survival with follow up to the end of 2004 (allowing 1 year survival of cases diagnosed up to 2003).

Time series population denominators for 1981-2006 are available for new 2006 PCT and Cancer Network geographies; they are built from Lower Super Output Area estimates provided by ONS. Our local CIS and the National Intranet system now include these and 2006 data extracts.

Primary Care Trust (PCT) incidence, mortality and survival for the 10 most common cancers in the West Midlands can be found here

Fact sheets on common cancer sites, publications, presentations and posters are available on our publications page, please click here

Commonly used statistical terms are explained here