In a defined population, approximately 67% of all stroke cases are attributable to uncontrolled hypertension. If hypertension were adequately managed, 2/3rd of the stroke burden could be eliminated. This is an example of:

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2026

Explanation

The question describes the impact of a risk factor (hypertension) on a 'defined population', not just on the individuals exposed to the risk.
Population Attributable Risk (PAR) specifically measures the proportion of disease incidence in a total population that can be attributed to a given exposure.
The key phrase, 'If hypertension were adequately managed, 2/3rd of the stroke burden could be eliminated,' directly describes the public health implication of PAR – the fraction of disease that is preventable by removing the risk factor from the population.

Option A: Relative risk measures the strength of association, not the proportion of disease in a population. It would answer 'How many times more likely is a person with hypertension to have a stroke?'.
Option B: Attributable risk (or risk difference) quantifies the excess risk in the exposed group only. It does not consider the prevalence of the risk factor in the entire population.
Option D: The Odds Ratio is typically used in case-control studies to estimate the relative risk. Like relative risk, it measures the strength of association, not the public health burden on a population level.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Epidemiological measures of risk and association as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Population Attributable Risk is a crucial metric for public health planning. It helps health officials and nurses prioritize interventions by identifying risk factors that have the largest impact on the community's health.
A high PAR for hypertension and stroke, as indicated in the question, provides a strong justification for allocating resources to large-scale public health programs, such as community blood pressure screenings, health education on diet and exercise, and policies to improve access to affordable medications.
What if? If the question had asked for the excess risk of stroke that is due to hypertension only among those with hypertension, the correct answer would have been Attributable Risk (AR).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject: The question is asking to classify a specific type of epidemiological measurement.
Analyze the keywords in the stem. The phrase 'in a defined population' is a major clue that the answer relates to a population-level metric, not an individual-level one.
Focus on the central statement: '...2/3rd of the stroke burden could be eliminated.' This indicates a measure of preventable burden.
Differentiate between the options. Recall that Relative Risk and Odds Ratio measure the strength of an association, while Attributable Risk and Population Attributable Risk measure the burden of disease due to an exposure.
The final step is to distinguish between AR and PAR. AR applies only to the exposed group, while PAR applies to the entire population. Since the question refers to the burden in the whole population, PAR is the correct choice.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Epidemiological measures of risk and association
Stem keywords: defined population, stroke, uncontrolled hypertension, attributable, stroke burden
Lead-in keywords: example of
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 71-73

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.