Epidemiologic designs for the study of acquired immunodeficiency disease: options and obstacles. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Epidemiologic designs for the study of acquired immunodeficiency disease: options and obstacles.

Rev Infect Dis. 1984 Sep-Oct;6(5):720-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/85065353
Monto AS

Abstract: Epidemiologic methods are designed to identify risk factors involved in production of a particular disease, even when the specific etiologic agent is unknown. However, a major problem currently presenting obstacles to research on the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) relates to classification; approaches are described that will permit reclassification when better laboratory techniques are developed or when more information is available from studies on natural history. Further descriptive studies will be valuable in the determination of whether extension of disease has occurred to new population groups or geographic areas. Case control studies can provide information on changes of known risk factors or can confirm and help to specify those factors already recognized. Because of the dynamic nature of AIDS and the probable existence of multiple risk factors, prospective cohort studies will be of greatest value, although they will take longer to complete. As understanding of the etiologic factors improves, preventive measures will become more efficient.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY *Epidemiologic Methods Homosexuality Human Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/CLASSIFICATION Male Prospective Studies Retrospective Studies Risk Space-Time Clustering United States JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDepidemiology/etiologyKWDepidemiologicmethodshomosexualityhumanimmunologicdeficiencysyndromes/classificationmaleprospectivestudiesretrospectivestudiesriskspace-timeclusteringunitedstatesjournalarticle
850330
M8530142

Copyright © 1985 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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