Which metric is used to express the frequency of certain healthcare events in relation to a population?

The incidence rate is the correct metric to express the frequency of new healthcare events or diseases occurring in a specific population during a certain period. It is typically calculated by dividing the number of new cases of a disease by the total population at risk during that time frame, often multiplied by a constant (such as 1,000 or 100,000) to express the rate per a standardized number of people.

This metric is particularly valuable for public health monitoring as it helps in understanding the risk of developing a condition within a population and identifying outbreaks or trends in disease over time. By focusing on new cases, the incidence rate can provide insights into the effectiveness of interventions and the impact of specific health policies.

While the mortality rate reflects the number of deaths in a population and prevalence rate indicates the total number of existing cases (both new and pre-existing) of a disease at a given time, they do not specifically denote the frequency of new occurrences like the incidence rate does. Statistical rates, on the other hand, are a more general term and do not specifically refer to health-related events.