Prevalence as a Measure of Burden of Disease in the Population

Daniel Cameron, a practicing physician, epidemiologist, and a Board Member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), explained that incidence is the measure of new cases and is useful for studying causal factors and in evaluating prevention programs.

Prevalence, on the other hand, is the measure of new and ongoing cases, which is useful as a measure of burden of disease in a population”. “Actual practice reflects the best description of the “real world”.

The higher risk of chronic Lyme disease (34% and 62%) has been reported in studies not restricting enrollment to subjects presenting with an EM rash.”

Public Health Agency of Canada National Lyme Disease Meeting  PLENARY SESSION IV: HUMAN EPIDEMIOLGY AND SURVEILLANCE

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/pdf/lyme032006_e.pdf