Cohort Studies in Epidemiology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to cohort studies in epidemiology.

Cohort

A group of people who share a common experience or condition.

Birth cohort

A cohort that shares the same year or period of birth.

Open cohort

A cohort that allows members to enroll and leave at different times.

Closed cohort

A cohort defined by a common start time, with no new members added during the follow-up period.

Induction period

The time it takes for an outcome to occur due to an exposure of interest.

Latency period

The time during which an outcome exists but is not clinically or diagnostically detectable.

Loss to follow-up

The phenomenon where participants drop out of a study, which can lead to selection bias.

Relative risk (RR)

A measure of the risk of an outcome in the exposed cohort compared to the unexposed cohort.

Rate ratio (IDR)

A measure comparing the rate of an outcome in the exposed cohort to the rate in the unexposed cohort.

FRAMINGHAM HEART STUDY

Long-term study initiated in 1948 designed to identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Health Professionals Follow-Up Study

Cohort study that began in 1986 to identify risk factors for chronic diseases.

Measures of frequency

Statistical measures such as risk and rates that indicate the occurrence of health outcomes.

STROBE guidelines

A set of guidelines for reporting observational studies.

Temporal relationship

Establishing the time order of exposure and outcome in a cohort study.

Look back period

A minimal time period of available information required before a participant can enter a cohort.

Common exposure cohorts

Cohorts defined by shared risks such as smoking, alcohol consumption, or diet.