Incidence vs Prevalence Flashcards
INCIDENCE:
- Refers to the number of NEW CASES of a disease or condition within a SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD in a DEFINED POPULATION
- Measure the RATE OF NEW CASES arising, providing insight into the risk of individuals contracting the disease
- Commonly used to study disease causes, risk factors & preventative measures
PREVALENCE
- Refers to the TOTAL NUMBER OF EXISTING CASES (new & pre-existing) of a disease or condition within a specific population at a given point in time
- Provides a SNAPSHOT of how widespread the disease is in the population
- Used to assess the overall BURDEN of the disease on healthcare systems, resource allocation & public health planning
Incidence vs Prevalence
INCIDENCE focuses on the rate of new cases over time
PREVALENCE considers all existing cases at a specific moment
What does incidence measure in public health?
The number of new cases of a disease or condition within a specified time period in a defined population.
What does prevalence measure in public health?
The total number of existing cases (new and pre-existing) of a disease or condition within a specific population at a particular point in time.
What is the key focus of incidence?
The rate at which new cases are arising, providing insights into the risk of contracting the disease.
What is the key focus of prevalence?
A snapshot of how widespread the disease is in the population, considering both new and existing cases.
Incidence focuses on ________ cases, while prevalence includes ________ cases within a population.
new; both new and existing
What type of insights does incidence provide?
Insights into causes, risk factors, and preventive measures for diseases.
What type of insights does prevalence provide?
Insights into the overall burden of disease, helping with healthcare resource allocation and public health planning.
What is an example of incidence in public health?
Tracking the number of new COVID-19 cases in a city over a one-month period.
What is an example of prevalence in public health?
Determining the total number of people living with diabetes in a country at the end of a year.
If researchers want to measure the effectiveness of a vaccine, should they focus on incidence or prevalence?
Incidence, as it tracks the rate of new cases and shows how well the vaccine prevents disease onset.
Incidence is useful for studying ________, while prevalence is helpful for assessing ________.
disease risk and prevention; healthcare system burden
If healthcare planners want to allocate resources for a chronic condition, should they focus on incidence or prevalence?
Prevalence, as it provides the total burden of the disease in the population.
