Epidemiología

Epidemiología
 Epidemiology
Rates
TI,e srudi• of rhe spread and control oí diseases in rhc communiry (epidemiology) requires
analysis of frcquency - rhe number of rimes somerhing occurs in a particular period. \'lle
ralk about frcquency using word corr1binarions with rate:

birth = the number of birrhs in a population (group of people)

dearh (mortality) = rhe number of dearhs in a popularion
case forafüy rare = rhe number of dearhs from a parricular disease
survival = rhe number of parienrs srill alive after rrearmenr for a
particular disease

17,e birth rare n Singapore is Thc infanr morrality rate in Singapore ~

10.2 per 1,000 popularion. is 3.0 per 1,000 live births.

Orher words 11sed ro ralk about frcquency:

common in many dc\•eloping counrrles.

Malaria is uncommon
in developed counrries.
rarc

lncidence and prevalence

The prcvalcnce of a disease is rhe number of pcoplc in a p0pulation who have thc disease
ata particular rime. The incidencc of rhe disease is rhe number of new cases of rhe disease
during a particular rime.

high in many developing countries.

TI,e incidence of malaria is
low in developcd countries.

17,e incidence of H IV infection is The incidence of HJV infection

highcst in sub-Sahal'lln /\frica. is lowest in rhe Caribbean.

Note: You don'\ say 'The incidence of malaria is common'.

The incidences of a discase in diffcrenr groups are ofren compared.

Rheumaroid arrhritis Rheumatoid arthritis Men and women are

is more common in is less common in equally affcctc<l by
fernales than in males. males than in females. resrless leg syndrome.

Association and causation

Srudying the incidence of disease in particular groups of peoplc can lcad to the discovery
of ca.usation - what mskcs ir occur. For cxomple, che hish incidence of lung crmccr among
cigarctte smokers suggesrs [h::n smoking is a causarivc factor in rhc developrnenr oi lung cancer.
However, ca re rnusr be rakcn nor to assume every associatioo berween a disease and a meas ured
variable is causativc. To say rhere is an associarion berwccn rwo things simply n,eans thar rhe)r
occur cogether in a cerra in situation. For example, severa/ studies have indicared h,gh rares of
lung canee, in cooks. /\khough rhis could be a conscquence of rheir work (pcrhaps caused by
carcinogcns in fumes from frying), it may be simply lx.,causc profcssional cooks smoke more
than rhc average. In or~.er words, smoking might confound the association wirh cooking.
96 Profession<JI Engl,sh in Use Medicine
~ .1 Complere rhe senrences. Look ar A and B opposire ro help you.
_ _ _ _ _ _ li:ll C.
1 Toe proporríon of epísodes of illncss char end farally is che _ _ _
2 17,e proporrion of pcople who die in a particular period is che ···············---- rate.
3 The proporrion of babi,s born in a particular period is rhe ···············-- - - rare.
4 Thc proportion of parieors who are still alivc five years afrer rrearment is rhc fivc•yrar
_ _ _..................,~ rare.
5 Ten per ccnr of che popularion have perennial rhinitis ar ,my rime. This is rhe ______
6 Every year, 0.5- 1.0% d,vclop thc condition. This is rhe ______

JZ-4.2 Complere the tcxt, using thc correcr gronunarical form o( cach word. Look ar rhe rabie and at
A, B and C opposire 10 help you.

lncldence oí lu.ng cance.r

(Su.r\'eillance and Hisk Assessme,u Oivlsion. CCDP. Health Ca.nada)
Cou1ury l.ncidence (per 100, 000)
Men Womc,,
China 67..i 26.6
Canada 59.1 30.8
USA 55.7 33.5
UK 51.2 22.0
Japan 44.6 13.3
Swcdcn 22,o) 12.9
Indio 12.1 3.8

Ln all countries, hmg canccrwas ( I) _ _ __ _ _ · -- - - - il'1,nen than in women.

The (2) ..........._ _ ___ incldencc amo11g men was in China where 67.5 men per 100.000 wcrc diagnosed
\Ylth lung cancer in the period. In ,VQm(m, however, fung cancer was less (3) - -- -............. loChlna
than in tite USA and Canada.
Toe (4) ·- ·····- ·····- ·····..- ···..·····-··incidence in bolh mcn and women was in India. Sweden aJso hada fairty
(5) _ __ _ _ _ _ incidence in both sexes. Lung ca1lccr is probably (6) -······ ·····.......................... in India íor
culrural and economic reasons. whereas in Sweden il is thé re:suh oí an cffcctive hcaJth educalion CJ.mpaign.

. J Find preposirions in A, B and C opposite rhar can be used ro make word combinarions wirh rhe
words in the box. Then use the corree, forms of the words ro complete rhe senrences.

affecred association incidence lead rarc

Recenr surveys showed 1hat rhe _______ ______...... HJV cases had come down
in rhe sourhern statcs of India.
2 Epidcmiologic clara suggesr an _ _ _ _ __ - - -.................... obesiry and depression, but
furrher studics are needed.
3 Appropriare prevcnti\•c measures should ...................._ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ a reduo:ion in the
morraliry rare.
4 Thalassacmia is ..................................... _______ people o( Northern European origin.
5 Ma le and female soldiers are cqually ...................................... _ ______ post·traurnatic stress
disoi-dcr.

Pro(essronol Engli,h in Use Medicint 97

 Epidemiología

BIBLIOGRAFÍA
• GLENDINNING, E. H. y HOWARD, R. Epidemiology. En GLENDINNING, E. H.
y HOWARD, R. Professional English in use (pp: 96-97). Cambridge University Press.
Cambridge, Reino Unido.1

1
Uso con fines académicos