Match each epidemiological scenario described below with the most appropriate measure of disease frequency or mortality metric it calculates.
- Of 150,000 total deaths recorded in a nationwide registry this year, 30,000 were explicitly attributed to cerebrovascular accidents.Proportionate mortality
- In a metropolitan area with 2,000,000 residents, 5,000 individuals died from complications of coronary artery disease over a one-year period.Cause-specific mortality rate
- Among 800 patients definitively diagnosed with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in an intensive care network, 320 died from the condition.Case fatality rate
- A multi-site study follows 1,000 high-risk subjects for varying durations to identify new cases of atrial fibrillation, reporting findings relative to the sum of observation time.Incidence density (Incidence rate)
- An occupational health division tracks a fixed group of 500 factory workers over exactly 5 years to determine the proportion who develop new-onset contact dermatitis.Cumulative incidence
Answer
Scenario 1 matches Proportionate mortality; Scenario 2 matches Cause-specific mortality rate; Scenario 3 matches Case fatality rate; Scenario 4 matches Incidence density; Scenario 5 matches Cumulative incidence.
Each scenario utilizes a distinct denominator that definitively maps to a specific epidemiological metric. Proportionate mortality evaluates total deaths; cause-specific mortality evaluates the general population; case fatality evaluates total diagnosed cases; incidence density evaluates total person-time; and cumulative incidence evaluates a fixed initially at-risk cohort.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Measures of Disease Frequency and Mortality