Analytic epidemiology differs from descriptive epidemiology in that analytic epidemiology uses what to test hypotheses about associations?

• A. Descriptive statistics
• B. Comparisons to test hypotheses about associations
• C. It collects data only on cases
• D. It disregards confounding

Answer: (B)

Analytic epidemiology tests hypotheses about associations by making direct comparisons between groups. By examining disease frequency in exposed versus unexposed individuals, analytic studies estimate the strength of the relationship (for example, relative risk or odds ratio) and often adjust for confounding to get closer to the true effect. Descriptive epidemiology, in contrast, describes who is affected, where, and when, using counts and rates without testing exposure–disease hypotheses. It also matters that analytic methods address confounding rather than disregard it, since ignoring confounding can bias results.