Incidence rate
Incidence rate
Incidence rate (pronounced as /ˈɪnsɪdəns reɪt/) is a term used in epidemiology to describe the frequency at which new events occur in a population. The term is commonly used in the context of disease, particularly in the field of public health.
Etymology
The term "incidence" is derived from the Latin word "incidere", which means "to fall upon or befall". The term "rate" comes from the Latin word "rata", which means "fixed or settled". In the context of epidemiology, the incidence rate refers to the number of new cases of a disease that befall a population in a specified period.
Definition
The incidence rate is defined as the number of new cases of a specific disease divided by the number of individuals in a population at risk during a specified time period. It is often expressed per 1000 or 100,000 persons. This measure provides an estimate of the risk of disease in the population at risk.
Calculation
The incidence rate is calculated by dividing the number of new cases during a specified time period by the size of the population initially at risk. The result is then multiplied by a multiplier (usually 1,000 or 100,000) to make the number easier to interpret.
Related Terms
- Prevalence: The total number of cases of a disease in a population at a specific time.
- Morbidity rate: The frequency of disease in a population.
- Mortality rate: The number of deaths in a population.
- Epidemiology: The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Incidence rate
- Wikipedia's article - Incidence rate
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