PH 210: Epidemiology for Public Health Practice

Dr. Grosskopf
Post-Class Activity: ANSWERS to Measures of Disease Frequency

1. Prevalence measures the frequency of existing disease; it measures the proportion of the
total population that is diseased at a point or during a period of time.

P= # existing cases____
# in total population at a given point in time or during a period of time

Cumulative incidence measures the proportion of a candidate population that becomes

diseased over a specified period or time.

CI= # new cases__________________________

# candidate population at start of time period over a given time period

Incidence rate measures the rate of occurrence of new cases of disease in a candidate
population. Its denominator is comprised of person-time of observation in the candidate
population.

IR # new cases________________________________________
amount of person-time of observation in candidate population

2.
A. There are two key differences between incidence and prevalence: (1) incidence
measures new cases while prevalence measures existing cases, and (2) the candidate
population comprises the denominator of the incidence measures while the total
population comprises the denominator of the prevalence measures. Note that the total
population contains both sick and healthy people while the candidate population is
comprised of healthy individuals.
B. The key difference between cumulative incidence and incidence rate is the way that
each handles time. Time is not integrated into the cumulative incidence measure (it is
mentioned in words that go along with the number) while time is an integral part of the
incidence rate denominator.

3. A. Cumulative incidence
B. Prevalence
C. Cumulative incidence
D. Prevalence
E. Incidence rate or cumulative incidence
F. Prevalence
G. Prevalence

4. If prevalence is < 10%, P = I x D. To solve for D, you need P and I since D=P/I

5. A. 50/1000 over a year

 B. 50/972 person-years (or 50/11,664 person-months)
C. 30/992 on July 1

6. A. 4/997
B. 5/997 over 10 years
C. 5/9931 person-years
D. 4/8 or 50%

7. 920 person months. [(10 x 2) + (10 x 6) + (10 x 6) + (65 x 12) = 920.] Note that the 5
prevalent cases do not contribute to person-time.