standardized morbidity ratio
Also written as: SMR — Standardized Morbidity Ratio
A measure comparing observed cases in a study population to expected cases based on a reference population.
Full Definition
The standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) is an epidemiological measure that compares the observed number of psychiatric cases in a specific population to the number that would be expected based on the age and sex structure of a standard reference population. An SMR of 1.0 indicates that observed and expected cases are equal, while values above 1.0 suggest higher morbidity than expected. This standardization technique allows comparison between populations with different demographic compositions and is particularly useful in occupational or geographic studies of mental health outcomes.
Usage
Usage note: Specify the reference population used for standardization and interpret values relative to 1.0.
In Context
- "The standardized morbidity ratio for depression was 1.34 in the exposed cohort." — occupational epidemiology study
- "SMRs were calculated using national prevalence rates as the reference standard." — comparative analysis methodology