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Introduction to Epidemiology Flashcards

1
Q

Epidemiology

A

Study of factors that determine the occurrence and distribution of disease in a population

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2
Q

Epidemiologists

A

Public health professionals who investigate patterns, causes of disease, and injury in humans

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3
Q

Classical epidemiology

A

• Population oriented
• Studies the community origins of health problems
• Interested in discovering risk factors

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4
Q

Clinical epidemiology

A

• Studies patients in health care settings
• Improve prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and care of illness in individuals

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5
Q

Syndromic epidemiology

A

• Looks for patterns of signs and symptoms
that indicate an origin in bioterrorism

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6
Q

Infectious disease epidemiology

A

• Study of the complex relationships among
hosts and infectious agents

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7
Q

Chronic disease epidemiology

A

• Addresses the etiology, prevention, distribution, natural history, and treatment outcomes of chronic health disorders

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8
Q

Public Health

A

science and art of preventing diseases

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9
Q

LEVELS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF DISEASE

A
  1. Submolecular or molecular level (e.g. cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, and immunology)
  2. Tissue or organ level (e.g.anatomic pathology)
  3. Level of individual patients (e.g. clinical medicine)
  4. Level of populations (e.g.epidemiology)
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10
Q

Pre-disease

A

Primary prevention;
• Health promotion
• Specific protection

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11
Q

Latent disease

A

Secondary prevention;
• Pre-symptomatic
• Diagnosis and Treatment

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12
Q

Symptomatic disease

A

Tertiary prevention;
• Disability limitation for early symptomatic disease
• Rehabilitation for late symptomatic disease

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13
Q

HOST FACTORS

A

Responsible for the degree to which the individual is able to adapt to the stressors produced by the agent

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14
Q

HOST RESISTANCE

A

• Genotype
• Nutritional status
• Body mass index
• Immune system
• Social behavior

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15
Q

AGENTS OF DISEASE OR ILLNESS

A

• Biologic agents
• Chemical agents
• Physical agents
• Social and psychological stressors

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16
Q

BIOLOGIC AGENTS

A

• Allergens, infectious organisms, biological toxins, foods

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17
Q

CHEMICAL AGENTS

A

• Chemical toxins, dusts

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18
Q

PHYSICAL AGENTS

A

• Kinetic energy, radiation, heat, cold, noise

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19
Q

SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

A

• Anxiety, depression

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20
Q

ENVIRONMENT

A

Influences the probability and circumstances of contact between the host and the agent

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21
Q

To be an effective transmitter of disease,

A

a vector must have a specific relationship to the agent, the environment, and the host

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22
Q

VECTORS

A

• Insects, arachnids, mammals
• Human groups
• Inanimate objects
• Part of the environment

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23
Q

RISK FACTORS AND PREVENTABLE CAUSES

A

• Intrinsic factors
• Extrinsic factors

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24
Q

INTRINSIC FACTORS

A

genetics, nutritional status, reproductive activities, personal behavior

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25
EXTRINSIC FACTORS
man-made or naturally occurring carcinogens, viral infections, etc.
26
BIOLOGIC AND BEHAVIORAL FACTORS
Influenced by gender, age, weight, bone density, etc.
27
Risk factors for Biological and Behavioral Factors
- Cigarette smoking • Overweight / obesity • Unprotected sexual intercourse • Excessive alcohol intake • Abuse of legal and illegal drugs • Driving under the influence • Homicide / suicide attempts
28
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Epidemiologists describe the patterns of the disease, develop and test hypotheses about causal factors, and introduce methods to prevent further cases of disease
29
SMALLPOX
• First infectious disease known to have been eradicated from the globe
30
HERD IMMUNITY
When a vaccine diminishes an immunized person’s ability to spread the disease, leading to reduced disease transmission
31
IMMUNODEFICIENCY
• Genetic abnormalities • Infections, certain medications
32
NUTRITIONAL FACTORS
Dietary variations play an important role in producing differences in disease rates among populations
33
• Genetic epidemiology
• Addresses the distribution of normal and abnormal genes in a given population
34
• Heritability
• Contribution of genes relative to all determinants of disease
35
• Genetic screening
• Important in identifying problems in newborns and in determining susceptibility genes
36
• Medical care services
• May be beneficial to health but can also be dangerous
37
Iatrogenic disease
Occurs when a disease is induced inadvertently by treatment or during a diagnostic procedure
38
Personal beliefs, religious faith, family support, social networks
Social and spiritual factors
39
1. VACCINATION AND PATTERNS OF IMMUNITY
Degree of immunity necessary to eliminate a disease from a population varies depending on the type of infectious organism, the time of year, and the density and social patterns of the population
40
DIPHTHERIA
Corynebacterium diphtheriae; • Vaccine-produced immunity decreases over time • Recommendation: additional single vaccination for adults to provide natural booster effect
41
SMALLPOX
Variola virus; • Variola minor (ALASTRIM) • Variola major (Classical smallpox)
42
EDWARD JENNER
used cowpox virus to create a vaccine for smallpox
43
POLIOMYELITIS
Causative agent = Poliovirus; fecal-oral route or by vehicle (food)
44
TYPES OF VACCINES FOR POLIO
• Inactivated or killed polio vaccine (IPV) / Salk • Live, attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV) / Sabin
45
SYPHILIS
caused by the spirochete bacteria: Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum
46
Three Stages of Syphilis
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
47
PRIMARY STAGE OF SYPHILIS
3-90 days after exposure, appearance of painless sore/ ulcer called CHANCRE
48
SECONDARY STAGE OF SYPHILIS
4-10 weeks after initial infection; rough and reddish brown rashes, flu-like symptoms, warts
49
TERTIARY STAGE OF SYPHILIS
3-15 years after initial infection; no symptoms but bacteria is still present
50
19th century:
• Diarrhea – primary killer of children • Tuberculosis – leading cause of adult mortality
51
Sanitary revolution:
• Reduced infant mortality, increased effective birth rate but a cause of today’s worldwide population problem
52
Demographic gap
• Difference between birth rate and death rate that develops when a country undergoes demographic transition
53
Synergism
• Interaction or combination of factors that produce a greater effect than the sum of their separate effects
54
Malnutrition and Infection
• A malnourished child has more difficulty making antibodies and repairing tissue damage which makes the child less resistant to infectious diseases
55
Antigenic shift
• a process by which 2 or more strains of a virus combine to form a new subtype of a virus
56
Antigenic drift
• Accumulation of mutations within virus genes over time
57
Global pandemic
Widespread outbreak involving multiple continents
58
Biologic spectrum of disease (Iceberg phenomenon)
• Variation in the severity of a disease process • Paramount to the field of epidemiology
59
Field trials
• Randomized trials of preventive measures • Important phase of evaluating a new vaccine
60
Ongoing/continued surveillance programs
• Ensure a vaccine’s continued safety and effectiveness • Examples: polio, smallpox, measles
61
Current recommendation for measles vaccine:
initially at 15 months of age, booster dose at 4 to 6 years of age
62
Syndromic surveillance
Epidemiologists contributing to national security
63
SETTING DISEASE CONTROL PRIORITIES
“Disease control priorities should be based not only on the currently existing size of the population (and its problem), but also on the potential of a disease to spread to others; its likelihood of causing death and disability; and its cost to individuals, families, and the community.”
64
EXAMPLES OF DISEASE CONTROL PRIORITIES
Examples: • HIV/AIDS prioritization • Type 2 diabetes • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) • Zoonotic infections like avian influenza (H5N1)
65
Diagnosis
Process of identifying the nature and cause of a disease through evaluation of the clinical history, review of symptoms, examination or testing
66
Effective treatment
Determined by methods of clinical epidemiology
67
Prognosis
• Improved understanding through epidemiology
68
Risk estimation
Epidemiology forecasts the probability and impact of risks
69
Epidemiologists can be called to testify in court:
• Product hazards • Probable risks and effects of various environmental exposures and medications
70
Lawsuits may rely on epidemiologic data:
• General environmental exposures • Occupational illness claims • Medical liability • Product liability

BioEpi (4 decks)

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