Lifespan's A - Z Health Information Library

Incidence

Definition

Incidence is the number of new cases of a condition, symptom, death, or injury that arise during a specific period of time, such as a year. It is often expressed as a percentage of a population (e.g., 25% of American residents were diagnosed with the flu in 2002).

Incidence conveys the likelihood that an individual in that population will be affected by the condition.


Review Date: 7/29/2005
Reviewed By: Paul B. Tabereaux, M.D., M.P.H., Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
adam.com