Example 2: U.S. Calculation of Completeness Index for Several Cancer Sites by Sex

Objective

Calculate completeness indexes for all cancer sites combined, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer to complete 27-year limited-duration prevalence at 1/1/2002. Calculate the indexes for all races combined for males and females separately. Export results to a text file.

Key Points

Although ComPrev can calculate completeness indexes for multiple selections of cancer site, sex, and race, complete prevalence can be calculated for only one selection of site/sex/race at a time. Thus, in this exercise we will calculate the completeness index for multiple selections of cancer sites/sex (for all races combined) and export to a text file which can be read into other software, such as SAS or Excel, to perform the calculations of complete prevalence.

Mode

Verify that Multi-Select By Groups | Completeness Index Only | Default Parameters Only is selected.

Cohort Selection

Make the following selections (use the control key when making multiple selections):

• Cancer site: All sites, Breast, Colon and Rectum, and Prostate.
• Race: All races.
• Sex: Males, and females.

Set the Initial Date of Diagnosis and Prevalence Date

Define the dates that correspond to the dates used to calculate the limited-duration prevalence we are going to complete. For 27-year limited-duration prevalence on 1/1/2002 the appropriate dates are:

• Prevalence Date: 1/1/2008
• Initial Date of Diagnosis: 1/1/1975

Once these two settings are made, the Duration will show as 33 years. As an alternative, you can set the prevalence date and duration (rather than initial date of diagnosis).

Note, in the single group mode when we import SEER*Stat limited-duration prevalence these settings are loaded from the export dictionary file.

Use the default settings for Age Group Output (19 Age Groups) which will calculate completeness indexes by the age groups: 0,1-4,5-9,10-14,..., 80-84,85+ and for Calculate Standard Errors and Use a range of Initial Dates.

Execute

Use the lightning bolt tool bar icon to execute the analysis. Click the OK button on the dialog letting you know that ComPrev did not have data for female prostate cancer.

Incidence and survival functions for each combination of site/race/sex are displayed in Incidence and Survival Tabs, respectively. The Completeness Index and graphs are displayed at the Completeness Index tab. Use the drop-down list box on the tool bar to switch between site/sex combinations.

Export and Results

Use the export results tool bar button to export the completeness indexes to a text file. When prompted, select to include the column titles. Download an example of the exported results.

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