AIIMS PG Entrance May 2015 – MCQ 28 – Disease trends

Increase in the incidence of non communicable disease compared to previous years is known as?
A. Secular trend
B. Seasonal trend
C. Cyclical trend
D. Periodical trend

Correct answer : A. Secular trend

Secular trends are those trends which describe the change in occurrence of a disease over prolonged periods, usually years. It depends on the multiple factors such as degree of immunity, socioeconomic status and nutritional levels in the population.