what is the incidence rate 
the term incidence rate refers to the rate at which a new event occurs over a specified period of time put simply the incidence rate is the number of new cases within a time period the numerator as a proportion of the number of people at risk for the disease the denominator this measure is commonly used in epidemiology as a way to denote the occurrence of disease illness or accident this rate only uses new cases rather than previously diagnosed or reported ones it can also be used to determine the probability of other events such as financial phenomena like foreclosures the incidence rate helps experts anticipate future incidents and make plans accordingly 