Epidemiology
ROLL NO : 49-54
Contents
Definition Study
Aim Conclusion
Scope
Uses
Definition
• Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and
determinants of health-related states or events in
specified populations, and the application of this study
to the control of health problems.
Aims of epidemiology
To describe distribution and
magnitude of health problems
To identify etiological factors in
pathogenesis of disease
To provide data essential for
planning, implementation, and
evaluation of health services
Scope of epidemiology
Not limited to infectious
diseases
Includes non-communicable
diseases, accidents,
environmental issues,
behavioral and social
problems
Uses of epidemiology
Community diagnosis
History of disease
Individual risks
Program evaluation
Syndrome identification
Clinical picture completion
Aetiology (causes & risk factors)
Prediction/prognosis
Evidence for policy & planning
Historical
• Study of disease trends over time
• Helps understand changes in population health
• Example: Decline of plague, rise of lifestyle diseases
Community diagnosis
• Assess health problems in a community
• Example: Prevalence of anemia in women
• Provides baseline for planning interventions
PLANNING AND EVALUATION OF SERVICES
• Data for health program design
• Evaluation of effectiveness (e.g., immunization coverage, TB program
success)
ESTIMATION OF RISKS
• Quantify individual’s risk of disease
• Example: Risk of lung cancer in smokers vs non-smokers
• Basis of preventive advice
types of epidemiology
• Descriptive studies
• Analytical studies
• Experimental studies
Descriptive study
A study that is concerned with describing the distribution of disease in a population by time, place, and person, without analyzing the causal relationships.
Purpose:
To describe the occurrence and distribution of disease.
To generate hypotheses for further analytical studies.
Provides baseline data for planning, monitoring, and evaluation of health programs.
Types of Descriptive Studies:
Case report / Case series – description of a single case or group of cases (new/unusual disease).
Cross-sectional study (prevalence study) – study of disease and exposure status at one point in time.
Correlation (ecological) study – unit of analysis is a group/population, not individuals (e.g., per capita income vs. disease rates).
Advantages:
Relatively simple and inexpensive.
Good for hypothesis generation.
Provides clues about risk factors and disease burden
Analytical study
Test hypotheses about association between exposures and
outcomes
• Types:
- Case-control study
- Cohort study
• Provide stronger evidence of causation
Presented by: Daniel Gallego
CASE CONTROL STUDY
Definition: Starts with diseased (cases) and non-diseased (controls), then looks back to compare
Advantages:
Quick, cheap, efficient
Best for rare diseases & long latent periods
Can study multiple exposures for one disease
Disadvantages:
Cannot directly measure incidence
Prone to recall bias & selection bias
Difficult to establish time-
→
Cohort RR, AR, incidence
Case–control → OR only
Cohort good for rare exposures, case–control good for rare
COHORT STUDY
Definition: A group of people free of disease, classified on the basis of exposure to a suspected risk factor, are
followed over time to see the occurrence of disease.
Advantages:
Gives incidence & natural history
Best to study multiple outcomes from a single exposure
Time–sequence is clear (exposure before disease)
Disadvantages:
Expensive, time-consuming
Not suitable for rare diseases
Loss to follow-up bias
Experimental study
Experimental Studies
• Researcher intervenes (e.g., clinical trial, field trial)
• Provide highest level of evidence
• Example: Vaccine trials, drug efficacy studies
Conclusion
Epidemiology is cornerstone of public health
• Provides tools for prevention, control, and planning
• According to Park, it links research to practice for
community well-being
Thank You
