2: Practical Applications of Epidemiology Flashcards
Seven Uses of Epidemiology
- to study the HISTORY of the health of populations
- to DIAGNOSE the health of the community
- to study the working of health services-OPERATIONS RESEARCH
- to estimate the INDIVIDUAL RISKS of disease and other conditions, and the chances of avoiding them
- to IDENTIFY SYNDROMES
- to complete the CLINICAL PICTURE of chronic diseases
- to SEARCH FOR CAUSES of health and disease
Historical Use of Epidemiology
refers to the study of past and future trends in health and illness. EX. secular trends
Secular Trends
changes in disease frequency over time
factors affecting reliability of observed changes over time
- lack of comparability over time due to altered diagnostic criteria
- aging of the general population
- changes in the fatal course of the condition
trends that reduce reliability of morbidity and mortality
- New Epidemic Disorders
- Persisting Disorders
- Residual Disorders
- Disappearing Disorders
- New Epidemic Disorders
Disease that are increasing in frequency.
-HIV, Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, Obesity
- Persisting Disorders
Diseases for which there is no effective method of prevention or no known cure.
-cancer, mental disorders
- Residual Disorders
Conditions for which the key contributing factors are largely known. Methods of control not implemented effectively.
-STDs, alcohol abuse, tobacco use
- Disappearing Disorders
Conditions that were one common but are no longer present in epidemic form. Immunizations, sanitary conditions, antibiotics, etc. led to eradication of these diseases.
-smallpox, polio, measles
Syphilis
- Bacterial STD, only human->human
- treated with antibiotics
- 80% asymptomatic
Tuberculosis
-Bacterial, airborne and respiratory transmission
Polio
- Virus
- food, water, fecal & oral transmission
three factors that affect size of populations
- births
- deaths
- migration
population equilibrium
when births, deaths, or migration don’t contribute to net increases or decreases
Fixed Population
adds no new members and, as a result, decreases in size due to deaths only
Dynamic Population
adds new members through migration and births or loses members through emigration and deaths
Demographic Transition
shift from high birth and death rates found in agrarian societies to lower birth and death rates found in developed countries
Epidemiologic Transition
shift in the pattern of morbidity and mortality from infectious and communicable diseases to chronic, degenerative diseases.