Chapter 3 Flashcards
what is Epidemiology?
The scientific study of the distribution and causes of health and disease in defined populations.
what is Prevalence?
describes the proportion of the population with a given symptom or quality
what is Indicator?
A quantifiable characteristic of a population (e.g., life expectancy) which may be used to justify public health interventions
what is Morbidity?
The number new cases of disease or illness in a specified population
what is Mortality?
The number of deaths at a given time and location. The mortality or death rate is typically expressed as the number of deaths per 1000 individuals per year.
Why do we measure health?
- establish priorities
- collect information about the population
- help with planning
what is the standardized mortality ratio (SMR)?
The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) is a measure of the death rate which takes into account differences in populations’ age structure.
what is the infant mortality rate?
The infant mortality rate (IMR), another commonly used statistic, is the number of deaths in the first year of life per 1000 live births
what is the Healthy life expectancy (HLE)?
Healthy life expectancy (HLE) is the average number of years a new-born baby is expected to live in good health
what is Years of life lost (YLLs)?
This combines morbidity and mortality to provide a quantitative measure of the impact of premature mortality due to particular diseases.
what is Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)?
The QALY measures years of survival weighted for the quality of life which people may expect to have in the context of different states of illness.
what is the Disability adjusted life years (DALYs)?
the DALY combines years of healthy life lost due to disability with those lost due to premature death.
