Patient Cohort

A group of individuals who share common characteristics, experiences, or medical conditions, often studied as a unit in healthcare research or quality improvement initiatives.

 

Prospective Cohort Study:

A research design that follows a group of patients over time to observe and analyze the development of certain outcomes or conditions, providing insights into cause-and-effect relationships.

 

Retrospective Cohort Study:

A research design that analyzes data from past events or records of a group of patients to identify associations and outcomes, helping researchers understand patterns and trends.

 

High-Risk Cohort:

A subgroup within a patient cohort identified as having an elevated likelihood of developing a specific condition or experiencing certain outcomes, often targeted for preventive interventions.

 

Cohort Effect:

Variations in health outcomes or behaviors observed in a specific cohort, often attributed to shared experiences, historical events, or common exposures during a particular time period.

 

Healthy Volunteer Cohort:

A group of individuals without specific health conditions who participate in research studies to serve as a baseline comparison group, helping researchers understand normal physiological variations.

 

Patient Registry:

A database or system that collects and stores information about individuals within a patient cohort, facilitating ongoing research, monitoring, and analysis.

 

Subcohort:

A smaller, more specific group within a larger patient cohort, often differentiated by additional criteria such as age, gender, or the presence of certain risk factors.

 

Incident Cohort:

A group of individuals within a population who share a common experience or exposure, such as the occurrence of a specific event, serving as a starting point for observation and analysis.

 

Cohort Size:

The total number of individuals within a patient cohort, influencing the statistical power and reliability of research findings.

 

Baseline Characteristics:

The initial traits, demographics, and health status of individuals within a patient cohort at the beginning of a study, providing a foundation for comparison.