ABSTRACT
This section covers the occurrence and distribution of certain key diseases within the population. Clearly, it is impossible for anyone to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of all diseases. However, it is important that public health specialists have an overview of the epidemiology of those diseases that are of particular public health concern in order to guide them in prioritising, organising, and allocating resources. The key public health diseases are either
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease) ●● Sharply changing in their incidence or prevalence in a particular area of the world (e.g. obesity in
developed countries) ●● Often preventable (e.g. lung cancer)
Knowledge of the de‘ning clinical features, distribution, causes, behavioural features, and determinants of diseases that currently make a signi‘cant impact on the health of local populations, with particular reference to those that are potentially preventable; require the planned provision of health services at individual, community, and structural levels; or are otherwise of particular public concern, for example, mental health.
