Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (999 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The number of new cases of a given disease during a given period in a specified population. It also is used for the rate at which new events occur in a defined population. It is differentiated from prevalence, which refers to all cases in the population at a given time.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Incidences; Incidence Proportion; Incidence Proportions; Proportion, Incidence; Cumulative Incidence; Cumulative Incidences; Incidence, Cumulative; Attack Rate.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Morbidity
- See also
- Risk
Related concepts
- Prevalence
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 341,606 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Incidence” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 79,362 of them (23.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 126,619 records.
Reviews account for 42,261 records (12.4%) and meta-analyses for 8,106. Randomized controlled trials number 10,725 (3.1%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 57,329 |
| 2000-2009 | 78,296 |
| 2010-2019 | 126,619 |
| 2020 onward | 79,362 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 42,261 | 12.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 8,106 | 2.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 10,725 | 3.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Incidence"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in clinical research
Research methods determine how much a result can be trusted. Randomized trials guard against confounding, systematic reviews and meta-analyses combine many studies, and observational designs are valuable but can show only association. Reporting standards, trial registration and pre-specified outcomes reduce bias. When reading about a method, ask what problem it is designed to solve and which problems it does not solve.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incidence, prevalence, and management of MRSA bacteremia across patient populations-a review of recent developments in MRSA management and treatment | 2017 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 406 | cc by PMID 28807042 · DOI · PMC5557425 |
| The updated incidences and mortalities of major cancers in China, 2011 | 2015 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 190 | cc by PMID 26370301 · DOI · PMC4593358 |
| Incidence of propofol-related infusion syndrome in critically ill adults: a prospective, multicenter study | 2009 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 131 | cc by PMID 19874582 · DOI · PMC2784401 |
| Maximum likelihood estimation of age-specific incidence rate from prevalence | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 40367286 · DOI · PMC12077784 |
Incidence, prevalence, and management of MRSA bacteremia across patient populations-a review of recent developments in MRSA management and treatment [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is still a major global healthcare problem.
- Closing excerpt
- Current and developing diagnostic tools, treatments, and prevention strategies are also discussed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (159 words)
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is still a major global healthcare problem. Of concern is S. aureus bacteremia, which exhibits high rates of morbidity and mortality and can cause metastatic or complicated infections such as infective endocarditis or sepsis. MRSA is responsible for most global S. aureus bacteremia cases, and compared with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, MRSA infection is associated with poorer clinical outcomes. S. aureus virulence is affected by the unique combination of toxin and immune-modulatory gene products, which may differ by geographic location and healthcare- or community-associated acquisition. Management of S. aureus bacteremia involves timely identification of the infecting strain and source of infection, proper choice of antibiotic treatment, and robust prevention strategies. Resistance and nonsusceptibility to first-line antimicrobials combined with a lack of equally effective alternatives complicates MRSA bacteremia treatment. This review describes trends in epidemiology and factors that influence the incidence of MRSA bacteremia. Current and developing diagnostic tools, treatments, and prevention strategies are also discussed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 28807042 · DOI · PMC5557425
The updated incidences and mortalities of major cancers in China, 2011 [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionThe National Central Cancer Registry (NCCR) of China collected population-based cancer registration data from all cancer registries in China.
- Closing excerpt
- The disease burden of cancer is increasing, and the health department must implement effective measures to contain the increased cancer burden in China.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (332 words)
IntroductionThe National Central Cancer Registry (NCCR) of China collected population-based cancer registration data from all cancer registries in China. This study aimed to compile national cancer incidences and mortalities in 2011 and estimate cancer incident new cases and cancer deaths.MethodsIn 2014, there were 234 cancer registries that submitted records of new cancer cases and cancer deaths that occurred in 2011 to the NCCR. All datasets were evaluated based on the criteria of data quality of the NCCR. The data of 177 registries was of sufficient quality and was compiled to evaluate cancer statistics in 2011. The pooled data were stratified by area, sex, age group, and cancer type. Cancer incident cases and deaths were estimated using age-standardized rates (ASR) and the Chinese population. All incidences and mortalities were age-standardized to the 2000 Chinese standard population and Segi's population.ResultsThe estimates of new cancer incident cases and cancer deaths were 3,372,175 and 2,113,048 in 2011, respectively. The crude incidence was 250.28/1,00,000 (277.77/1,00,000 for males and 221.37/1,00,000 for females). The ASRs of incidence by the Chinese standard population (ASRIC) and by the world standard population (ASRIW) were 186.34/1,00,000 and 182.76/1,00,000, respectively, with a cumulative incidence (0-74 years old) of 21.20%. Cancers of the lung, female breast, stomach, liver, colorectum, esophagus, cervix, uterus, prostate, and ovary were the most common cancers, accounting for approximately 75% of all new cancer cases. Lung, liver, gastric, esophageal, colorectal, female breast, pancreatic, brain, and cervical cancers and leukemia were the leading causes of cancer death, accounting for approximately 80% of all cancer deaths. Cancer incidence, mortality, and spectrum were all different between urban and rural areas and between males and females.ConclusionsThe population covered by the cancer registries greatly increased from 2010 to 2011. The data quality and representativeness of cancer registries have gradually improved. Cancer registries have an irreplaceable role in research on cancer prevention and control. The disease burden of cancer is increasing, and the health department must implement effective measures to contain the increased cancer burden in China.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 26370301 · DOI · PMC4593358
Incidence of propofol-related infusion syndrome in critically ill adults: a prospective, multicenter study [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionWhile propofol is associated with an infusion syndrome (PRIS) that may cause death, the incidence of PRIS is unknown.
- Closing excerpt
- These studies should also investigate the mechanism(s) and risk factors for PRIS.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (305 words)
IntroductionWhile propofol is associated with an infusion syndrome (PRIS) that may cause death, the incidence of PRIS is unknown. Determining the incidence of PRIS and the frequency of PRIS-related clinical manifestations are key steps prior to the completion of any controlled studies investigating PRIS. This prospective, multicenter study sought to determine the incidence of PRIS and PRIS-related clinical manifestations in a large cohort of critically ill adults prescribed propofol.MethodsCritically ill adults from 11 academic medical centers administered an infusion of propofol for [>or=] 24 hours were monitored at baseline and then on a daily basis until propofol was discontinued for the presence of 11 different PRIS-associated clinical manifestations and risk factors derived from 83 published case reports of PRIS.ResultsAmong 1017 patients [medical (35%), neurosurgical (25%)], PRIS (defined as metabolic acidosis plus cardiac dysfunction and [>or=] 1 of: rhabdomyolysis, hypertriglyceridemia or renal failure occurring after the start of propofol therapy) developed in 11 (1.1%) patients an average of 3 (1-6) [median (range)] days after the start of propofol. While most (91%) of the patients who developed PRIS were receiving a vasopressor (80% initiated after the start of propofol therapy), few received a propofol dose >83 mcg/kg/min (18%) or died (18%). Compared to the 1006 patients who did not develop PRIS, the APACHE II score (25 +/- 6 vs 20 +/- 7, P = 0.01) was greater in patients with PRIS but both the duration of propofol use (P = 0.43) and ICU length of stay (P = 0.82) were similar.ConclusionsDespite using a conservative definition for PRIS, and only considering new-onset PRIS clinical manifestations, the incidence of PRIS slightly exceeds 1%. Future controlled studies focusing on evaluating whether propofol manifests the derangements of critical illness more frequently than other sedatives will need to be large. These studies should also investigate the mechanism(s) and risk factors for PRIS.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 19874582 · DOI · PMC2784401
Maximum likelihood estimation of age-specific incidence rate from prevalence [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Usually, age-specific incidence rates of chronic diseases are estimated from longitudinal studies that follow participants over time and record incident cases.
- Closing excerpt
- Our results show that estimation of incidence rates and corresponding confidence intervals of chronic conditions based on aggregated data with the maximum likelihood method using a binomial likelihood function is possible and can replace resampling techniques.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (203 words)
Usually, age-specific incidence rates of chronic diseases are estimated from longitudinal studies that follow participants over time and record incident cases. However, these studies can be cost- and time-expensive and are prone to loss to follow up. An alternative method allows incidence estimation based on aggregated data from (cross-sectional) prevalence and mortality studies using relations between incidence, prevalence and mortality described by the illness-death model and a related partial differential equation. Currently, adequate options for the assessment of the accuracy of the achieved incidence estimates are missing and bootstrap resampling methods are used instead. Therefore, we developed novel ways to estimate incidence rates based on the maximum likelihood principle with corresponding confidence intervals. Historical data about breathlessness in British coal miners and diabetes in Germany are used to illustrate the applicability of this method in scenarios with non-differential and differential mortality. We have two scenarios of available data in the case of differential mortality: mortality of diseased and all-cause mortality, or all-cause mortality and mortality rate ratio. Our results show that estimation of incidence rates and corresponding confidence intervals of chronic conditions based on aggregated data with the maximum likelihood method using a binomial likelihood function is possible and can replace resampling techniques.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40367286 · DOI · PMC12077784
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Critical appraisal of the health research literature: prevalence or incidence of a health problem [5]
- Research article Understanding the effects of age, period, and cohort on incidence and mortality rates [6]
- Research article Measles [7]
- Research article A history of the population attributable fraction and related measures [8]
- Research article Why diabetes incidence increases--a unifying theory [9]
- Research article Changes in the relative prevalence of candidaemia due to non-albicans Candida species in adult in-patients: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression [10]
References
- Hassoun A, Linden PK, Friedman B. Incidence, prevalence, and management of MRSA bacteremia across patient populations-a review of recent developments in MRSA management and treatment. . 2017. PMID 28807042 · DOI · PMC5557425
- Chen W, Zheng R, Zeng H, Zhang S. The updated incidences and mortalities of major cancers in China, 2011. . 2015. PMID 26370301 · DOI · PMC4593358
- Roberts RJ, Barletta JF, Fong JJ, Schumaker G, Kuper PJ, Papadopoulos S, et al.. Incidence of propofol-related infusion syndrome in critically ill adults: a prospective, multicenter study. . 2009. PMID 19874582 · DOI · PMC2784401
- Voß S, Hoyer A, Brinks R. Maximum likelihood estimation of age-specific incidence rate from prevalence. . 2025. PMID 40367286 · DOI · PMC12077784
- Loney PL, Chambers LW, Bennett KJ, Roberts JG, Stratford PW. Critical appraisal of the health research literature: prevalence or incidence of a health problem. Chronic Dis Can. 1998. PMID 10029513
- Holford TR. Understanding the effects of age, period, and cohort on incidence and mortality rates. Annu Rev Public Health. 1991. PMID 2049144 · DOI
- Rota PA, Moss WJ, Takeda M, de Swart RL, Thompson KM, Goodson JL. Measles. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016. PMID 27411684 · DOI
- Poole C. A history of the population attributable fraction and related measures. Ann Epidemiol. 2015. PMID 25721747 · DOI
- Ludvigsson J. Why diabetes incidence increases--a unifying theory. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006. PMID 17130582 · DOI
- Giacobbe DR, Maraolo AE, Simeon V, Magnè F, Pace MC, Gentile I, et al.. Changes in the relative prevalence of candidaemia due to non-albicans Candida species in adult in-patients: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. Mycoses. 2020. PMID 31997414 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.