Course Description
Examination of chronic disease from an epidemiologic perspective, with an emphasis on methodological and practical issues of study designs, exposure and outcome assessment, factors determining the distribution of selected chronic diseases and critical review of relevant epidemiologic literature. Students are introduced to disease registries, their purpose, benefits and limitations.
Athena Title
EPI CHRONIC DISEASE
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to • Describe the historical development of ideas regarding chronic disease etiology • Understand principles underlying epidemiologic studies of selected chronic diseases • Know leading causes of morbidity and mortality of chronic diseases. • Explain the importance of epidemiology for informing scientific, ethical, economic and political discussion of chronic disease as a public health issue. • Apply the basic terminology and definitions of epidemiology to the study of chronic disease, • Identify key sources of data for epidemiologic study of chronic disease. • Evaluate strength and limitations of epidemiologic reports. • Be able to recognize special research problems, major research directions, and methodological challenges related to chronic disease epidemiology.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to chronic disease epidemiology and control 2. Methods in chronic disease epidemiology 3. Chronic disease surveillance 4. Coronary heart disease 5. Stroke 6. Type 2 diabetes mellitus 7. Selected risk factors: blood pressure, serum cholesterol and lifestyle 8. Cancer 9. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/asthma 10. Arthritis and osteoporosis 11. Alzheimer’s disease