What is the primary purpose of a reference population in epidemiological studies?

The primary purpose of a reference population in epidemiological studies is to provide a comparison for understanding disease rates. A reference population serves as a benchmark against which the health outcomes of the study group can be compared. This comparison helps researchers assess whether the observed rates of disease or health outcomes in the study population are higher, lower, or similar to those in the reference population. By utilizing a reference population, researchers can contextualize their findings, enabling them to make more informed judgments about the health status of specific groups and the potential impact of various risk factors or interventions.

In this context, while gathering baseline data on disease prevalence and identifying risk factors are important aspects of epidemiology, these activities are generally more focused on the specifics of data collection and analysis rather than on the foundational role that a reference population plays in interpreting those data. Moreover, the evaluation of the efficacy of new treatments pertains more to clinical trials than to the epidemiological study framework that relies on reference populations for understanding disease patterns.