Epidemiologic Risk Measures (wk 5) Flashcards
What is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease, injury or dysfunction in human populations used as a research approach?
Epidemiology
Examples of what epidemiologists do:
- identifying the source of the outbreak
- monitoring and tracking the disease
- studying the disease
- developing guidance for actions to slow the spread and lessen its impact
When are descriptive epidemiologic studies done?
when little is known about the occurrence or determinant of health conditions
Descriptive epidemiologic studies may be presented as what 3 types of studies?
case reports, correlational studies, or survey studies
Descriptive epidemiologic studies are purposed to answer:
- Who experiences this disorder?
- Where is the frequency of disorder highest or lowest?
- When does the disorder occur most or least frequently? (Disease frequency)
- Prevalence
- Incidence
What is a proportion reflecting the number of existing cases of a disorder relative to the total population at a given point or period in time?
(# of existing cases of a disease at a given point in time)/total population at risk
Prevalence
Interpret:
P = 21.8% obesity survey
This is called the point prevalence, what does that mean?
there is a 22% probability that any randomly selected individual from this population would be obese
point prevalence - it reflects the cross-sectional status of the population (certain fixed time point)
Interpret:
p = 40.6% 1 – year period random sample
This is called the period prevalence, what does that mean?
Interpretation – there is a 41% probability that any randomly selected individual from this population would have upper limb musculoskeletal complaints
This value is referred to as period prevalence because it combines the existing cases with new cases during the period of one year
What is a proportion reflecting the number of new cases of a disorder relative to the total population at a given period in time?
(# of new cases during given time period)/(total person - time)
Incidence rate (IR)
WHat does person-time mean?
the time periods of observation for all individuals in the population at risk during the study time frame
IR is often considered a more efficient measure as it allows for inclusion of all subjects while CI (cumulative incidence) only accounts for what?
for those subjects who were available for the entire study period
Interpret:
IR = 3606 new cases/1794565 person-years = .002
CI = 3606 new cases/121700 female nurses = .029
2 cases per 1,000 person years
3 cases per 100 people at risk
Birth rate and mortality rate are examples of what type of measure?
Incidence
Exploratory epidemiologic studies are performed to assess the relationship between what two things?
Exposure and disease status
When an association is found to exist between the exposure and disease status, that specific exposure represents a _____ for the disease
a risk factor