Question

Suppose that the incidence of all types of cancer remains constant in a given country. However, thanks to new treatments, the survival of cancer patients increases. What do you expect to happen to the prevalence of cancer in that country?

Select one:

A. decrease

B. cannot be determined

C. duplicate

D. increase

E. remain constant

Answer 1

Option B is the correct answer.

Explanation: Prevalence is defined as a proportion of population with a particular condition during a period of time. Prevelance increases with increase in the new disease disease cases identified. New disease cases identified is the incidence. So, prevelance increases with increase in the incidence. In this case the incidence remains constant so we can expect the prevelance also to remain constant. Coming to increase in survival of cancer patients as given in the question. Survival describes number of patients still alive at a given period of time after diagnosed with cancer. Prevalence decreases when a patient is cured or otherwise dies but in the question we are given information about the survival. Since the survival of cancer patients do not talk about the patient to be cured we cannot determine how the prevalence is affected. So, on the whole with incidence remaining constant and increased survival of cancer patients we cannot determine the prevalence.