State Cancer Profiles

Interpretation of Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer Data

Death Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer, 2019-2023

Maryland Counties versus United States

All Cancer Sites

All Races, Female

Sorted by name

Explanation of Column Headers

State/County - The site and sex combination for this comparison.

Priority Index ¹ - The priority index is based upon the direction of the trend and the rate comparison. An index of 1 is the highest priority - that trend is rising and the rate is already higher. An index of 9 is the lowest priority - the trend is falling and the rate is already lower.

Recent Trends - This is an interpretation of the AAPC:

• Rising when 95% confidence interval of average annual percent change is above 0.
• Stable when 95% confidence interval of average annual percent change includes 0.
• Falling when 95% confidence interval of average annual percent change is below 0.

AAPC (95% Confidence Interval) - The Average Annual Percent Change is the change in rate over time. These AAPCs are based upon APCs that were calculated by Joinpoint Regression Program

Other Notes

• Larger confidence intervals indicate less stability of the data. This is often due to low counts that are not quite low enough to be suppressed.
• Data is currently being suppressed if there are fewer than 16 counts for the time period.

Line by Line Interpretation of the Report

United States

• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.1 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.2 to -1.0.
• Rate : The death rate is 126.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 126.1 to 126.6 and 287,034 average annual deaths.

Maryland

• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.7 to -1.5.
• Rate : The death rate is 124.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 123.2 to 126.3 and 5,320 average annual deaths.

Worcester County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.5 to -0.7.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 127.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 113.0 to 143.4 and 70 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Wicomico County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.3 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.2 to -0.3.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 142.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 129.7 to 155.8 and 99 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Washington County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.8 to -0.7.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 135.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 126.1 to 146.0 and 155 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Talbot County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.5 to -0.2.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 125.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 109.9 to 143.3 and 55 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

St. Marys County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.3 to 0.4.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 148.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 135.8 to 163.1 and 98 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Somerset County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.3 to 0.1.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 175.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 146.7 to 208.8 and 29 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.4

Queen Annes County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.0 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.0 to -1.0.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 132.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 116.7 to 150.8 and 52 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Prince Georges County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.1 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.4 to -1.9.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 119.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 115.2 to 123.2 and 720 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Montgomery County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.3 with a 95% confidence interval from -5.9 to -1.9.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 97.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 94.0 to 100.4 and 734 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Kent County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.0 to -0.6.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 109.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 87.1 to 136.5 and 21 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Howard County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.1 to -1.3.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 102.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 96.7 to 109.3 and 211 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Harford County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.6 to -0.7.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 128.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 121.5 to 136.5 and 240 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Garrett County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.8 to -0.6.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 101.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 84.0 to 122.7 and 26 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Frederick County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.3 to -1.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 109.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 102.5 to 116.6 and 195 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Dorchester County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.3 to 0.8.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 144.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 124.2 to 167.8 and 40 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Charles County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.5 to -1.3.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 127.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 117.4 to 137.6 and 130 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Cecil County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.2 to -0.8.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 143.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 130.9 to 157.5 and 98 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Carroll County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.7 to -0.7.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 131.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 122.6 to 141.0 and 168 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Caroline County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.8 to -0.1.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 152.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 130.7 to 176.8 and 37 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Calvert County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.7 to -0.2.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 144.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 131.0 to 158.5 and 91 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Baltimore County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.7 to -1.0.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 135.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 131.3 to 139.6 and 880 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Baltimore City

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.0 to -1.2.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 154.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 148.4 to 159.9 and 593 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Anne Arundel County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.1 to -1.4.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 131.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 125.9 to 136.4 and 504 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Allegany County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.8 to 0.2.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 137.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 123.4 to 153.4 and 76 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Notes:
Created by statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov on 03/15/2026 10:56 pm.


¹ Priority indices were created by ordering from rates that are rising and above the comparison rate to rates that are falling and below the comparison rate.
² Recent trend in death rates is usually an Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) based on the APCs calculated by Joinpoint. Due to data availability issues, the time period and/or calculation method used in the calculation of the trends may differ for selected geographic areas.
³ Rate ratio is the county rate divided by the US rate. Previous versions of this table used one-year rates for states and five-year rates for counties. As of June 2018, only five-year rates are used.
Source: Death data provided by the National Vital Statistics System public use data file. Death rates calculated by the National Cancer Institute using SEER*Stat. Death rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population (20 age groups: <1, 1-4, 5-9, ... , 80-84, 85-89, 90+). The Healthy People 2030 goals are based on rates adjusted using different methods but the differences should be minimal. Population counts for denominators are based on Census populations as modified by NCI. The US Population Data File is used with mortality data.
Note: When the population size for a denominator is small, the rates may be unstable. A rate is unstable when a small change in the numerator (e.g., only one or two additional cases) has a dramatic effect on the calculated rate. Suppression is used to avoid misinterpretation when rates are unstable.

State Cancer Registries may provide more current or more local data. Data presented on the State Cancer Profiles Web Site may differ from statistics reported by the State Cancer Registries (for more information).

Interpret Rankings provides insight into interpreting cancer statistics. When the population size for a denominator is small, the rates may be unstable. A rate is unstable when a small change in the numerator (e.g., only one or two additional cases) has a dramatic effect on the calculated rate.

Data for United States do not include Puerto Rico.