Prevalance

[Dr.Appalayya]

The prevalence of leisure time physical activity was substantially lower among South Asians (6.1% of control arm patients) compared with the rest of the world (21.6%).

While prevalence is usually used in the context of existence of a disease, can it be used in the context of existence of habits also like the above?

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[Dimcl]

The prevalence of leisure time physical activity was substantially lower among South Asians (6.1% of control arm patients) compared with the rest of the world (21.6%).​

While prevalence is usually used in the context of existence of a disease, can it be used in the context of existence of habits also like the above?​

Yes, it's fine in this context. In fact, your statement that "prevalence is usually used in the context of existence of a disease" rather confuses me as I know of no exclusivity of its meaning via a vis diseases.

 

[okey-dokey]

While prevalence is usually used in the context of existence of a disease,

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This is so. Incidence and prevalence are used extensively by epidemiologists, statisticians and other medical researchers with quite specific meaning, but both words are used in most other registers, too.

 

[Dimcl]

This is so. Incidence and prevalence are used extensively by epidemiologists, statisticians and other medical researchers with quite specific meaning, but both words are used in most other registers, too.

I understand that, Okey-dokey, but Dr. Appalayya indicated that prevalence is usually used in the context of existence of a disease and that is not the case.