Population-based studies are defined as a group of individuals taken from the general population who share common characteristics, such as age, sex, or health conditions.

What are the advantages of a population-based approach to health?

A population-based prevention strategy can be an excellent option if an intervention has almost no adverse effects. But if the intervention has even a small degree of disutility, a targeted approach using multivariable risk prediction can prevent more morbidity and mortality while treating many fewer people.

What is a population-based intervention?

A population-based approach considers intervening at all possible levels of practice. Interventions may be directed at the entire population within a community, the systems that affect the health of those populations, and/or the individuals and families within those populations known to be at risk.