State Cancer Profiles

Interpretation of Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer Data

Death Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer, 2019-2023

Washington Counties versus United States

Lung & Bronchus

All Races, Both Sexes

Sorted by priority index

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 -3.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.9 to -3.5.
• Rate : The death rate is 31.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 31.4 to 31.6 and 134,732 average annual deaths.

Washington

• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.5 to -3.9.
• Rate : The death rate is 29.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 28.6 to 29.6 and 2,739 average annual deaths.

Adams County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.4 to -0.8.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 19.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 11.5 to 30.5 and 4 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.6

Benton County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.9 to -2.8.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 27.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 24.9 to 31.0 and 69 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Island County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.9 to -2.8.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 26.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 22.7 to 30.5 and 40 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Jefferson County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -6.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -13.9 to -4.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 21.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 17.3 to 27.6 and 19 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.7

King County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.8 to -4.1.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 22.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 21.7 to 23.5 and 538 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.7

Kitsap County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.1 to -2.6.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 27.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 25.4 to 30.3 and 106 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

San Juan County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.8 to -0.3.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 21.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 15.4 to 30.4 and 9 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.7

Whatcom County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -5.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -13.9 to -3.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 25.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 22.8 to 28.1 and 75 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Asotin County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.1 with a 95% confidence interval from -5.8 to -0.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 24.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 18.1 to 33.3 and 10 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Chelan County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.0 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.1 to -2.0.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 28.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 24.4 to 33.4 and 34 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Clallam County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -11.3 to -2.6.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 33.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 29.4 to 37.9 and 56 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Clark County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -8.1 to -3.3.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 31.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 29.5 to 33.6 and 193 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Columbia County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -7.4 to -0.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 35.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 20.1 to 64.2 and 3 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Douglas County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.3 to -1.2.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 30.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 24.3 to 37.8 and 17 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Franklin County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.3 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.1 to -2.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 30.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 24.9 to 36.7 and 23 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Grant County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -5.0 to -2.6.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 31.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 26.6 to 36.3 and 35 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Kittitas County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.6 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 29.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 23.6 to 37.0 and 17 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Klickitat County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -22.3 with a 95% confidence interval from -35.5 to -4.8.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 29.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 22.6 to 38.8 and 12 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Lewis County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.8 to -2.1.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 34.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 29.7 to 39.1 and 45 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Pacific County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -5.0 to -2.1.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 36.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 29.4 to 45.7 and 20 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Pend Oreille County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.7 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 35.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 25.8 to 49.4 and 9 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Pierce County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.2 to -4.0.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 32.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 31.1 to 34.3 and 334 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Skagit County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.0 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.9 to -2.1.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 33.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 30.3 to 37.7 and 70 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Skamania County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.5 to -1.2.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 31.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 21.8 to 46.3 and 7 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Snohomish County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -7.8 to -3.1.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 30.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 29.2 to 32.5 and 279 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Spokane County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.0 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.8 to -3.4.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 31.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 29.4 to 33.2 and 215 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Stevens County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.7 to -1.7.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 29.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 24.6 to 35.8 and 25 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Thurston County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -3.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.9 to -2.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 32.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 29.7 to 34.9 and 128 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Walla Walla 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 -3.5 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 30.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 25.3 to 36.0 and 28 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Whitman County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.3 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 33.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 25.7 to 42.5 and 13 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Yakima County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.4 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 31.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 28.2 to 34.2 and 86 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Ferry County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -2.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.7 to 1.7.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 39.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 26.4 to 59.4 and 7 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Lincoln County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -3.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -8.4 to 0.3.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 24.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 15.7 to 37.2 and 5 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Cowlitz County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.0 to -0.9.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 47.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 43.0 to 53.0 and 75 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.5

Grays Harbor County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -18.1 to -1.4.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 37.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 32.6 to 42.6 and 48 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Mason County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 5.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.6 to -1.6.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 42.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 37.2 to 48.9 and 47 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.4

Okanogan County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.0 to 0.5.
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 43.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 36.4 to 51.1 and 30 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.4

Wahkiakum County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 38.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 23.6 to 67.0 and 4 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Garfield County

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• County Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) County to US : *

Notes:
Created by statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov on 03/13/2026 11:27 am.


* Data has been suppressed to ensure confidentiality and stability of rate and trend estimates.
** Data are too sparse to provide stable estimates of annual rates needed to calculate trend.
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).

Data for the following has been suppressed to ensure confidentiality and stability of rate and trend estimates:
Garfield County

Trend for the following could not be reliably determined due to small number of deaths per year:
Wahkiakum County

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.