The date of birth is important for several reasons:
Age Calculation: The primary use of DOB is to calculate age, which is a crucial variable in epidemiological studies. Age can influence susceptibility to diseases, mortality rates, and the effectiveness of treatments. Risk Assessment: Certain diseases are more prevalent in specific age groups. For example, older adults have a higher risk of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, while younger populations may be more susceptible to infectious diseases. Life Course Epidemiology: The study of how early life exposures affect health outcomes later in life relies heavily on accurate DOB data.