What does the term 'incidence' refer to?

The term 'incidence' specifically refers to the frequency of occurrence of new cases of a disease or condition in a specified population over a certain period of time. It is a crucial epidemiological measure as it helps to understand how widespread a disease is in a population and allows for tracking changes in health outcomes over time.

In public health and medicine, knowing the incidence of a disease can inform prevention strategies, resource allocation, and can highlight the potential impact of interventions. This is why the definition is centered on the frequency with which new instances arise, distinguishing it from other concepts related to a disease such as its duration, severity, or recovery possibilities, which focus on different aspects of health outcomes. Understanding incidence is fundamental for assessing public health trends and planning for health care needs.