Summary
Objectives:
To obtain a reliable estimate of the population size in an epidemiological study
concerned with incidence estimation.
Methods:
In the present case, the population of interest consists of all children attending
a certain pediatric practice for any reason and is estimated making use of the number
of regularly attended well baby visits. In some cases, exact figures from the practices
are available as a reference. A prospective epidemiological study on the estimation
of the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in the German pediatric
population (PRI.DE, Parainfluenza- und Respiratory-Syncytial-Virus-Infektionen in
Deutschland) is used to demonstrate the procedure.
Results:
In most cases, the fit can be regarded as good with deviations between 11% and 17%,
whereas in a few cases it must be considered as poor (deviations of 60%).
Conclusions:
The importance of using exact figures whenever obtainable and of appraising the results
carefully is emphasized.
Keywords
Incidence estimation - population size - population at risk - children
