Incidence

Definition

Incidence is the number of new cases of a disease that occur in a specified population during a defined time period. It is often expressed as a rate, such as the incidence rate per 1,000 or 100,000 people.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Incidence helps epidemiologists understand the spread and risk factors associated with diseases.
2. It is distinct from prevalence, which measures the total number of disease cases at a particular point in time.
3. Incidence rates are crucial for identifying outbreaks and implementing public health interventions.
4. The calculation typically requires accurate data on both new cases and the population at risk over the time period.
5. Incidence can be used to compare disease occurrence across different populations or geographic areas.

Review Questions

• What does incidence measure in epidemiology?
• How is incidence different from prevalence?
• Why is incidence important for identifying disease outbreaks?

Related terms

Prevalence:

The total number of cases of a disease in a population at a specific point in time.

Morbidity:

Refers to having a disease or symptom of disease, or the amount of disease within a population.

Epidemiology:

The study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations.