define use of word in sentence

[susiedqq]

Please define the bold word as it is used in this sentence:

The number of people with dementia will double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050. The costs of caring for people with dementia are likely to rise even faster than the prevalence - especially in the developing world, as more formal social care systems emerge, and rising incomes lead to higher opportunity costs.


TYIA

 

[Rover_KE]

That's tricky to explain, Susie.

The prevalence of the illness is the number of people who get it.

The costs of caring for people who get it will increase at a higher rate than that.

So if the prevalence doubles, the costs will more than double in the same period of time.

Hope that helps.

Rover
x

 

[susiedqq]

The number of people with dementia will double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050. The costs of caring for people with dementia are likely to rise even faster than the prevalence - especially in the developing world, as more formal social care systems emerge, and rising incomes lead to higher opportunity costs.

I thought that "prevalence" referred to the doubling and tripling trend.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[Pedroski]

prevalence = commonness (of dementia)