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The table shows the death rate from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in groups of men and women in England and Scotland between 2001 and 2013 - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 10 - 2019
Question 10
The table shows the death rate from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in groups of men and women in England and Scotland between 2001 and 2013. | Year | England ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The table shows the death rate from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in groups of men and women in England and Scotland between 2001 and 2013 - Scottish Highers Human Biology - Question 10 - 2019
Step 1
Identify the group that shows the greatest percentage decrease in death rate from CVD between 2001 and 2013.
Answer
To identify the group that shows the greatest percentage decrease, calculate the percentage decrease for each group:
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For English men:
ext{Percentage Decrease} = rac{603 - 324}{603} imes 100 = 46.3\%
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For English women:
ext{Percentage Decrease} = rac{402 - 221}{402} imes 100 = 45.0\%
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For Scottish men:
ext{Percentage Decrease} = rac{684 - 396}{684} imes 100 = 42.2\%
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For Scottish women:
ext{Percentage Decrease} = rac{476 - 275}{476} imes 100 = 42.3\%
The group with the greatest percentage decrease is English men.
Step 2
State another conclusion that can be drawn from the data in the table.
Answer
Another conclusion from the data is that the death rates from CVD decreased for both men and women in both England and Scotland from 2001 to 2013, indicating an overall improvement in health outcomes related to cardiovascular disease.
Step 3
Express, as a simple whole number ratio, the death rate from CVD in English men compared to Scottish men in 2013.
Answer
In 2013, the death rate from CVD in English men was 324 per 100,000 and in Scottish men it was 396 per 100,000. To express this as a simple whole number ratio:
ext{Ratio} = rac{324}{396} = rac{9}{11}
Thus, the ratio of English men to Scottish men is 9:11.
Step 4
Explain how the data in the table allows a valid comparison of deaths from CVD between England and Scotland to be made, despite their populations being different sizes.
Answer
The table presents death rates per 100,000 people, which standardizes the data, allowing for a valid comparison between the two countries. By using this rate, the data accounts for differences in population size, ensuring that the comparison reflects the relative risk of death from CVD in each country rather than the total number of deaths.
Step 5
Describe how a double-blind design could be achieved when setting up the clinical trial.
Answer
A double-blind design can be achieved by ensuring that neither the participants nor the researchers know which group is receiving the cholesterol-reducing drug and which is receiving the placebo. This can be done by using identical capsules for both groups so that neither the participants nor the researchers can distinguish between the treatments.
Step 6
State what aspect of the design of the study increased the reliability of the results.
Answer
The large sample size of 3,000 men increased the reliability of the results. A larger sample size reduces the effect of random variation and provides more accurate estimates of the treatment's effect.
Step 7
Explain why having a lower LDL concentration in the blood decreases the risk of death from CVD.
Answer
Lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein) concentration in the blood reduces the risk of death from CVD because LDL is often referred to as 'bad cholesterol.' High levels of LDL can lead to atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaques in the arteries, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. By lowering LDL levels, the risk of arterial blockage is reduced, leading to lower mortality rates from CVD.