Epidemiology, Epidemic, and Endemic
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Epidemiology
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The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified popluations, and the application of this study to control health problems.
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Epidemic
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An unexpectedly large number of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior, or other health-related event in a particular population.
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Endemic Disease
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A disease that occurs regularly in a population as a matter of course.
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Epidemiologist
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One who practices epidemiology.
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Pandemic
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An outbreak of disease over a wide geographical area such as a continent.
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Cases
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People afflicted with a disease.
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Rate
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The number of events that occur in a given population in a given period of time.
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Natality (Birth) Rate
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The number of live births divided by the total population.
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Morbidity Rate
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The number of people who are sick divided by the total population at risk.
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Mortality (Fatality) Rate
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The number of deaths in a population divided by the total population.
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Population at Risk
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Those in the population who are susceptible to a particular disease or condition.
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Incidence Rate
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The number of new health-related events or cases of a disease divided by the total number in the population at risk.
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Acute Disease
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A disease that lasts three months or less.
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Attack Rate
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An incidence rate calculated for a particular population for a single disease outbreak and expressed as a percentage.
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Prevalence Rate
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The number of new and old cases of a disease in a population in a given period of time, divided by the total number in that population.
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Chronic Disease
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A disease or health condition that lasts longer than three months.
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Crude Rate
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A rate in which the denominator includes the total population.
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Crude Birth Rate
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The number of live births per 1,000 in a population in a given period of time.
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Crude Death Rate (CDR)
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The number of deaths (from all causes) per 1,000 in a population in a given period of time.
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Age-Adjusted Rate
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A rate used to make comparisons across groups and over time when groups differ in age structure.
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Specific Rate
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A rate that measures morbidity or mortality for particular populations or diseases.
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Cause-Specific Mortality Rate (CSMR)
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The death rate due to a particular disease.
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Case Fatality Rate (CFR)
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The percentage of cases of a particular disease that result in death.
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Proportionate Mortality Ratio (PMR)
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The percentage of overall mortality in a population that is attributable to a particular cause.
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Notifiable Diseases
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Diseases for which health officials request or require reporting for public health reasons.
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National Electronic Telecommunications System (NETS)
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The electronic reporting system used by state health departments and the CDC.
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Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL)
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The number of years lost when death occurs before the age of 65 or 75.
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Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)
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A measure for the burden of disease that takes into account premature death and loss of healthy life resulting from disability.
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Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE)
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The number of years of healthy life expected, on average, in a given population.
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U.S. Census
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The enumeration of the population of the United States that is conducted every 10 years.
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Vital Statistics
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Statistical summaries of records of major life events such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and infant deaths.
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Descriptive Study
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An epidemiological study that describes a disease with respect to person, place, and time.
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Epidemic Curve
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A graphic display of the cases of disease according to the time or date of onset of symptoms.
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Common Source Epidemic Curve
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A graphic display of a disease where each case can be traced to a single source of exposure.
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Incubation Period
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The period between exposure to a disease and the onset of symptoms.
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Point Source Epidemic
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A type of epidemic where all cases were exposed at the same point in time.
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Continuous Source Epidemic
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A type of epidemic where cases are exposed to a common source over time.
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Propagated Epidemic Curve
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An epidemic curve depicting a distribution of cases traceable to multiple sources of exposure.
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Analytic Study
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An epidemiological study aimed at testing hypotheses.
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Risk Factors
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Factors that increase the probability of disease, injury, or death.
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Cross-Sectional Study
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An observational study where information about exposure and disease are collected at the same time.
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Observational Study
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An analytical, epidemiological study in which the investigator observes the natural course of events, noting exposed and unexposed subjects and disease development.
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Case/Control Study
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A study that seeks to compare those diagnosed with a disease with those who do not have the disease for prior exposure to specific risk factors.
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Cohort Study
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An epidemiological study in which a cohort is classified by exposure to one or more specific risk factors and observed to determine the rates at which disease develops in each class.
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Cohort
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A group of people who share some important demographic characteristic (year of birth, for example).
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Odds Ratio
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A probability statement about the association between a particular disease and a specific risk factor, resulting from a case/control study.
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Relative Risk
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A statement of the relationship between the risk of acquiring a disease when a specific risk factor is present and the risk of acquiring that same disease when the risk factor is absent.
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Experimental (Interventional) Studies
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Analytical studies in which the investigator allocates exposure or intervention and follows development of disease.
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Placebo
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A blank treatment.
