What does cumulative incidence quantify in a population?

Cumulative incidence quantifies the total number of new cases of a disease that occur in a population during a specified period of time, typically expressed as a proportion or percentage of the population at risk. This measure is essential in public health as it helps to understand the risk of disease in a population over time. It provides insight into the likelihood of individuals within that population developing the disease, which can then inform health interventions and resource allocation.

This concept is distinct from recovery rates, duration of illness, and mortality rates, as those metrics provide different perspectives on disease impact and do not directly represent the onset of new cases in a population. Therefore, cumulative incidence specifically focuses on new cases, making it a critical parameter for disease surveillance and epidemiological studies.