What does the term "incidence" refer to regarding pregnant individuals with hypertensive disorders?

The term "incidence" specifically refers to the number of new cases that develop in a given time period. In the context of pregnant individuals with hypertensive disorders, incidence provides crucial information about how frequently new cases are occurring within a specific population and timeframe. This data is essential for public health monitoring, understanding trends in maternal health, and implementing necessary interventions to prevent or manage these disorders effectively.

Incidence is often distinguished from prevalence, which measures the total number of existing cases, including both new and ongoing cases. Understanding the incidence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy can help healthcare professionals identify risk factors, allocate resources, and develop strategies for education and prevention. This statistical measure is important for recognizing patterns and potentially guiding research into interventions aimed at reducing the occurrence of these conditions within the pregnant population.