Page 137 of Basic Epidemiological Methods and Biostatistics: A Practical Guidebook.

Page,
Cole. Timmereck

1. A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine (Trump, Hyams, Cross, and Struewing,
1993) determined the current prevalence of tuberculin reactors among young adults entering
the U.S. Navy. 2,212 male recruits were tested in January and February 1990; 55 had
tuberculin reactions. What was the overall prevalence rate of the male Navy recruit
population (per 100 recruits)? Calculate the prevalence rate for the recruits according to the
three age groups in the table below and according to race/ethnic group. Which age group and
race/ethnic group had the highest prevalence rate of tuberculin reactors?

Number of Number tested Prevalence rate per

reactors 100

Age: 17-19 24 1225

20-24 22 855

25+ 9 134

Race/ethnic group: 12 1588

White

Black 20 386

Hispanic 9 167

Asian/Pacific islanders 14 53

Other 0 20

2. In a survey of patients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in San Francisco, 180 of 300
patients interviewed reported using a condom at least once during the 2 months before the
interview. What is the period prevalence of condom use in this population during the last 2
months (per 100)?

3. Two surveys were done of the same community 12 months apart. Of 5,000 people surveyed
the first time, 25 had antibodies to histoplasmosis. Twelve months later, 35 had antibodies,
including the original 25. Calculate the prevalence of people with histoplasmosis antibodies at
the second survey, and compare the prevalence with the 1-year incidence. (Calculate rates per
1,000 persons.)
4. Identify the following studies as either a cross-sectional, a cohort, a case-control, or an
experimental study.

a. Vietnamese Experience Study: Subjects were several thousand soldiers stationed in

Vietnam from 19691971 and several thousand soldiers stationed in Europe from 19691971. In
the mid-1980s, investigators determined and compared the death rate and prevalence of
illness in both groups.

b. Subjects were persons with laboratory-confirmed trichinosis, and one healthy

friend of each. All subjects were asked about their consumption of pork and other meat
products.

c. Subjects were children enrolled in a health maintenance organization. At 18

months of age, each child was randomly given one of two types of vaccine
against Haemophilus influenzae. Parents were asked to record any side effects on a card, and
mail it back after 2 weeks.

5. In a case-control study, researchers wanted to determine whether females had a greater risk
of developing pellagra than males. In this study involving 1,484 female subjects and 1,419
male subjects, it was observed that 46 females had pellagra compared to only 18 males. What
is the odds ratio showing the relationship between pellagra and gender?

6. In a prospective/cohort study, you have determined that graduate students have an

incidence rate of 25 per 100 (25%) of carpal tunnel syndrome compared to only 5 per 100
(5%) of people employed in professional, white-collar occupations. This was a 2-year follow-
up study that began when the cohort of interest received their undergraduate degrees (May
1991 through May 1993). What is a graduate student's relative risk of developing carpal
tunnel syndrome (using the non-graduate student cohort as the reference group)?
Book Recommendation: An Introduction to Medical Statistics by Martin Bland

It is hypothesized that excessive alcohol can cause high blood pressure. In a

study 100 people who consume excessive amounts of alcohol and 80 people who
do not, were recruited and followed up over time. Their blood pressure was
measured after 6 months. Of those who were exposed to excessive amounts of
alcohol, 43 had high blood pressure. In the non-exposed group, 27 had high
blood pressure. Calculate the odds ratio for developing high blood pressure for
those exposed and not exposed to excessive alcohol.

Disease No Disease

Exposed a c

Not Exposed b d