Lecture 2

Question 1

Describe the goal of epidemiology

Answer 1

Epidemiology refers to the study of frequency of dis-ease within populations (this is the goal)

Disease frequency, occurence, risk, and distribution can all mean the same thing

Question 2

What does epidemiology focus on/start with

Answer 2

Always starts with a population (rather than cell/organ)

Importantly, you should always start by counting the denominator/pop no. as to not confuse others with those in the denominator

Question 3

What are the steps of all epidemiological studies?

Answer 3

We start by describing a population and splitting them into groups, and then counting them

Finally, we count the number of cases of dis-ease that occur within the groups (/population)

Question 4

Why do we measure the frequency of disease in different populations/groups

Answer 4

Comparing the occurrence of dis-ease in different groups/populations (or of the same population at different times) provides insights into the causes, predictors, and the amount of dis-ease, and how to prevent, diagnose, and treat it

Question 5

Describe population

Answer 5

Population typically refers to a number of individuals that share a common factor/feature (e.g. same ethnicity) – but can also be averages (e.g. average deaths from heart disease over 2000-2010) w

‘populations’ and ‘groups’ can essentially be used interchangeable - except on the GATE frame

Question 6

Describe Exposure and Control groups

Answer 6

Populations can be split into further groups – e.g. exposed vs control groups

Question 7

What do you do once you have set out the population and separated the groups?

Answer 7

After identifying and counting the population, the frequency of dis-ease is measured.

Question 8

What is the definition of health

Answer 8

Epidemiological definition of health = absence of death, disease, or disability (narrow) OR the capacity to do what matters most to you (broad)

Question 9

What is the definition of disease

Answer 9

Epidemiological definition of dis-ease = ‘dead, diseased or disabled’ or ‘not at ease’

Question 10

Describe numerators

Answer 10

Numerator = no. with dis-ease (in groups)

Question 11

Describe denominator

Answer 11

Denominator = population no. (within groups)

Question 12

Where must the numerators come from

Answer 12

All within numerator (with disease) come from denominator (within the population)

Question 13

How do you calculate disease frequency?

Answer 13

E (frequency of disease)
= N/D /T

Question 14

What can disease frequencies be used for

Answer 14

If the frequency of dis-ease alters between two or more populations, this can assist in finding the causes of the dis-ease

Question 15

What do you do once you have calculated the crude disease frequency

Answer 15

You have to ask whether you can compare populations as they are

Question 16

What is the crude disease frequency

Answer 16

The disease frequency when you don’t adjust/standardise the population

Question 17

What is age standardisation

Answer 17

Age standardisation is a process that epidemiologist use to account for confounding of age as to make a fairer and more meaningful comparison between populations with different ratios of ages

Question 18

What is confounding?

Answer 18

Confounding refers to when an additional variable that is not being focused on/investigated impacts health outcomes and therefore quality of data

Question 19

Give a key example for the important of age standardisation

Answer 19

Māori people have higher death rates from heart attack in each age group, but because the Māori population is younger, Pākehā have a higher overall heart attack death rate

Question 20

What is the death rate in New Zealand

Answer 20

100% (1 per person per lifetime)