patientcohort
A patient cohort is a defined group of individuals who share specific characteristics and are tracked over time to observe health outcomes. In epidemiology and clinical research, cohorts are used to study disease incidence, natural history, prognosis, and the effects of exposures or treatments on health over time.
Cohorts can be prospective, enrolling participants and collecting data forward from a starting point, or retrospective
Data for patient cohorts are gathered from electronic health records, clinical registries, biobanks, and participant surveys.
Strengths of cohort studies include the ability to establish temporal sequence between exposure and outcome, the
Prominent examples include long-running population and disease cohorts such as the Framingham Heart Study and the