Epidemiology: Key Terms from Veterinary Notes (Ch. 1-8)

Epidemiology is the data-driven study of health problems in populations, focusing on distribution (frequency, pattern: who, what, when, where) and determinants (causes, risk factors).

Its ultimate goal is prevention and control of health problems.

Descriptive epidemiology characterizes a problem (distribution) and forms hypotheses, while analytical epidemiology tests these hypotheses to identify determinants and measure associations.

Key tools include the Two-by-Two table for organizing data and calculating Relative Risk (RR): RR = \frac{\dfrac{a}{a+b}}{\dfrac{c}{c+d}}. An RR > 1 indicates increased likelihood of disease with exposure.

Notifiable diseases require reporting to authorities, linking clinical practice to public health surveillance.

The One Health initiative recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, crucial given that over 61% of human pathogens are zoonotic and more than 75% of emergent pathogens are zoonotic.

Practical applications involve collecting data (e.g., on equine colic from mycotoxin-contaminated feed or dairy cow ketosis), analyzing it, and implementing interventions based on evidence, such as managing the critical transition period in dairy cows to maintain subclinical ketosis below 3%.