EPIDEMIOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT NO. 01

Composed By:
Dr. Waheed Ahmed

Q1)
Table 1: Cancer incidence in a European Country and an African Country

EUROPEAN COUNTRY SUB SAHARA AFRICAN

COUNTRY
Age group New cases Population New Cases Population
<35 830 5000000 375 3750000
30-64 8940 4200000 1672 1150000
>65 41090 800000 3389 100000
Total 50860 10000000 5436 5000000

Calculate the crude cancer incidence rate per 100 000 population in

i. The European country

Crude cancer Incidence Rate = No. of new cases/ Total population at Risk * 100000

= 50860/9949140 * 100000

= 511

ii. The African country

Crude cancer Incidence Rate = No. of new cases/ Total population at Risk * 100000

= 5436/4994564 *100000
= 108
Interpret your results.

European countries are at higher risk for cancer incidence as compared to the African countries

Q3) A large medical center’s oncology program reported an increase number of cases of
pancreatic cancer during a certain month. The hospital’s epidemiologist decided to research the
problem. Tumor registry records were searched to identify all cases of pancreatic cancer during
pancreatic cancer during a five-year period; cancer patients were matched with patients
treated for other diseases during the same five-year period. All subjects in the study were
questioned about lifestyle factors including alcohol, tea and coffee consumption. Resulting
data are as follows

Cancer Patients Other Patients

Men Women Men Women
I IFESTYLE
VARIABLE
Alcohol 185 120 270 260
Tea Drinking 140 110 230 225
Coffee Drinking 190 140 270 240

NGte: Total number of male cancer patients = 200.

Total number of female cancer patients = 150.

Total number of male patients (other diseases) = 300.

Total number of female patients (other diseases) = 300.

a)What type of study is this?

It is a Case-Control Study as the study proceeds from the health outcome or disease
(Cancer in this scenario) to causes/ exposure (Alcohol, tea drinking. Coffee drinking in this
scenario)

b)Does this study have an exposure status variable?

Yes

c)Does this study have a disease status variable?

Yes