Counts and rates are related but distinct concepts in epidemiology:
- Counts: Simply the number of occurrences of an event. - Rates: The number of occurrences of an event divided by the population at risk, often expressed per 1,000 or 100,000 individuals. Rates provide a more accurate measure of the risk of disease by accounting for population size.
For example, if there are 50 cases of influenza in a community of 1,000 people, the count is 50, but the rate is 50 cases per 1,000 people.
