What is proportionate mortality ratio?

The proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) is a measure used in epidemiology to assess the proportion of deaths attributed to a specific cause relative to the total number of deaths within a defined population over a certain period. It is calculated by dividing the number of deaths from a specific cause by the total number of deaths and then multiplying by 100. PMR helps identify trends in mortality and can inform public health strategies by highlighting significant health issues within a population. However, it does not provide information about the risk of dying from that cause.