What Role Does Age Play in Disease Incidence and Prevalence?
Age significantly impacts both the incidence and prevalence of diseases. Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease occurring in a specific period, while prevalence refers to the total number of existing cases in a population at a given time. For example:
- Infectious Diseases: Children and the elderly are generally at higher risk for infectious diseases due to less robust immune systems. - Chronic Diseases: The prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer increases with age due to cumulative exposure to risk factors and age-related biological changes.
