Actual Incidence: An Overview
Incidence is the term used to describe the occurrence of new cases of a disease or condition within a population over a given period of time. In epidemiological studies, the “actual incidence” of a condition or disease is the number of cases that actually occur in a population during a given period. This is in contrast to the “expected incidence” which is the estimated number of cases that would be expected to occur in a population without any interventions or changes in the risk factors. This article provides an overview of the concept of “actual incidence” from an epidemiological perspective.
The concept of “actual incidence” is important in epidemiological studies because it allows researchers to gain insight into the current situation of a particular condition or disease within a population. For example, if the expected incidence of a certain disease or condition is 100 cases per year, but the actual incidence is 200 cases per year, then this indicates that there may be some factor or factors contributing to the increased occurrence of the condition. This can help researchers identify and address any underlying causes of a disease or condition, as well as identify any interventions that may be beneficial.
The actual incidence of a condition or disease can also provide insight into how effective interventions are. For example, if the expected incidence of a condition or disease is 100 cases per year, but after the implementation of an intervention the actual incidence is 50 cases per year, then this indicates that the intervention may be effective in reducing the occurrence of the condition or disease. This type of information can be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and in determining whether further interventions are necessary.
When calculating the actual incidence of a condition or disease, it is important to consider the population size, the time period, and the data source. The population size needs to be large enough to provide reliable data, and the time period should be long enough to capture any changes in the incidence of the condition or disease over time. The data source should also be reliable, such as a survey or database.
In conclusion, the concept of “actual incidence” is an important one in epidemiological studies. It allows researchers to gain insight into the current situation of a condition or disease in a population, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. However, when calculating the actual incidence of a condition or disease, it is important to consider the population size, the time period, and the data source.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). What is incidence? Retrieved December 10, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/publichealth101/disease-detection-prevention/incidence.html
World Health Organization. (2020). Incidence of disease. Retrieved December 10, 2020, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/incidence-of-disease#tab=tab_1
Kawachi, I., & Berkman, L. F. (2008). Epidemiology: An introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.