Epidemiology and health services: year in review.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiology began as the study of the occurrence of disease in populations. Initial studies focused on the presence of diseases by person, place, and time to identify risk factors for disease. The field has grown to include many subfields recognizing the contributions of multiple factors to disease susceptibility.


RESULTS
This review will focus on articles published October 2005-November 2006 relevant to genetic epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, and social determinants of health and health disparities.


CONCLUSIONS
Genetic epidemiology is the study of genetic contributions to disease occurrence, and of population-based genetic risks for disease. Genetics influences not only susceptibility to disease, but also the phenotype and severity of disease. Pharmacoepidemiology examines the outcomes of medication use, including clinical benefits and adverse effects. Gene-environment interactions are also included in this area. Typical topics in pharmacoepidemiology include studies of medication use, risks, benefits and genetic factors influencing the metabolism of medications. Social epidemiology is the study of social determinants of health, including psychosocial behaviors, socioeconomic status, interactions of individuals, the collective health of the community in which a person lives, and the position of the individual within society. Social epidemiology is directly relevant to studies of socioeconomic and ethnic disparities.
Dooley
Mary Anne
MA
D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology / Q000639:trends*; D010597:Pharmacogenetics / Q000639:trends*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012924:Social Conditions; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors