Measuring and describing disease 1 Flashcards
what is epidemiology
the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states/events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems
simple what is epidemiology
how often disease occur in different groups of people and why
When did cholera affect londoners?
1850s
How did people initially think cholera was spread?
Airbourne virus
3 types of prevention
primary, secondary and tertiary
What is primary prevention
preventing disease by controlling exposure to risk factors e.g. lowering Na+ intake to lower risk of hypotension
What is secondary prevention
detect and treat early departures from health to introduce appropriate treatment and interventions e.g. controlling hypertension with antihypertensive drugs
What is tertiary prevention
applications and measure to reduce/eliminate long-term impairments and disabilities, minimising suffering caused by existing departures from good health and to promote the patient’s adjustments to their conditions e.g. stroke rehabilitation
What is healthcare?
secondary and tertiary prevention - a true health service should provide primary prevention (at the moment we’re disease service)
3 dimensions of epidemiology
time, person, place
All-cause mortality
the death rate from all causes of death for a population in a given time period
What is the exposure in an abstract
the variable which is being reviewed as causing and observed effect e.g. dietary salt intake
What is the outcome in an extract
The observed effect in the abstract e.g. blood pressure
examples of exposures,
drugs, behaviours, demographics characteristics
degenerative disease
A disease in which the function or structure of the affected tissues or organs changes for the worse over time. Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer disease are examples.
