What is the term for a death rate that has been standardized for age, allowing for population comparisons?

The term for a death rate that has been standardized for age, allowing for comparisons between different populations, is known as the age-adjusted death rate. This metric accounts for the age distribution of a population, enabling more accurate comparisons by removing the influence of age on death rates. Since age is often a significant factor in mortality, the age-adjusted death rate provides a clearer insight into the overall health outcomes of a population, facilitating better public health decisions and resource allocation.

In contrast, general mortality rate and morbidity rate do not specifically factor age in their calculations, which can lead to skewed comparisons if populations have significantly different age distributions. Life expectancy, while an important overall health indicator, measures the average number of years a person can expect to live and does not represent a death rate at all. Thus, the age-adjusted death rate stands out as the most appropriate term for standardized death rates for age comparisons.