Health 2000 Test 2

epidemiology

the study of the distribution and determinant of health-related states or events in human populations, and the application of this study to prevent and control health problems

epidemiologist role

collect information about disease status, which is used to prevent outbreaks, and determine effectiveness of prevention efforts

what steps do epidemiologists take?

epidemiologic surveillance, contact tracing, immunization, identify infected, and quarantine if necessary

patterns of disease occurance

how, when, and where diseases appear in a population categorized by time, place, and person

father of epidemiology, who and what was his role?

Dr. John Snow, also first anesthesiologist and medical hygienist

endemic

persistent, usual, expected health-related state or event in a defined population over a given period of time

epidemic

health-related state or event in a defined population above the expected over a give period of time

pandemic

epidemic affecting a large number of people, global

difference between epidemiology and biomedical sciences

biomedical sciences are lab based and focused on disease at an individual level, while epidemiology is population-focused and deals with factors influencing the health of communties

purpose and use of statistics and data in public health

used to understand and monitor health risks and trends, inform and evaluate policies, identify disparities, and allocate resources 

notifiable diseases- what they are and how they are reported

list of contagious, severe, or frequent illnesses that healthcare providers are legally required to report to public health officials, like the CDC

notifiable diseases examples

anthrax, COVID-19, tuberculosis

major causes of death in US in 1900s, what causes them?

pneumonia- virus, flu- virus, tuberculosis- bacteria

major causes of death in US now, what causes them?

heart disease, cancer, stroke, caused by genetics and lifestyle choices

agent

cause of disease or health problem

host

susceptible person or organism invaded by an infectious agent

environment

factors that inhibit or promote disease transmission

cases

people afflicted

attack rates

percentage of people who get sick in a given population

morbidity rates

frequency at which a disease appears in a population

mortality rates

the number of deaths in a given area or period or from a particular cause

population at risk

those susceptible to a particular disease or condition

incidence rate

number of new health-related events or cases of a disease in a population at a given time, divided by total number in that population

prevalence rate

number of new and old cases in a given period of time, divided by total number in that population

crude rates

denominator includes the total population

age-adjusted rates

used to make comparison of relative risks across groups and over time when groups differ in age structure

notifiable diseases

infectious disease in which health officials request or require reporting

life expectancy

average number of years a person from a specific cohort is projected to live from a given point in time

YPLL

number of years lost when death occurs before one’s life expectancy

crude birth rate

number of live births in a given year, divided by midyear population

crude death rate

number of deaths in a given year from all causes, divided by midyear population

infant mortality rate

number of infants who die before their first birthday for every 1000 live births in a given year

risk factors

behaviors, conditions, or exposures that increase the likelihood of developing a disease or health problem

carrier

person or animal that harbors an infectious agent

vector

living organism that transmits pathogens to a host

vehicle

inanimate object/substance that transmits pathogens to host

chronic diseases

long term

acute diseases

short term

pathogenicity

an agent’s ability to cause disease in a host

direct transmission

spread of disease through immediate, close contact between an infected and susceptible person

indirect transmission

transfer of pathogens through an intermediary or environment

chain of infection

pathogen → reservoir → portal of exit → transmission → portal of entry → susceptible host

modifiable risk factors

controllable

non-modifiable risk factors

basically uncontrollable

the US Census, Vital Statistics, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System are all sources of secondary data for epidemiology

true

primary prevention

forestall onset of illness or injury

secondary prevention

early diagnosis and prompt treatment

tertiary prevention

aimed at rehabilitation following significant pathogenesis

eradication

total elimination of a disease form human population