cool_jonny009 wrote:
In 1987 sinusitis was the most common chronic medical condition in the United States, followed by arthritis and high blood pressure, in that order. The incidence rates for both arthritis and high blood pressure increase with age, but the incidence rate for sinusitis is the same for people of all ages. The average age of the United States population will increase between 1987 and 2000.
Which of the following conclusions can be most properly drawn about chronic medical conditions in the United States from the information given above?
A. Sinusitis will be more common than either arthritis or high blood pressure in 2000.
B. Arthritis will be the most common chronic medical condition in 2000.
C. The average age of people suffering from sinusitis will increase between 1987 and 2000.
D. Fewer people will suffer from sinusitis in 2000 than suffered from it in 1987{#}
E. A majority of the population will suffer from at least one of the medical conditions mentioned above by the year 2000.
Premise :
1. In 1987 sinusitis was the most common chronic medical condition in the United States,
2. followed by arthritis and high blood pressure, in that order. (Arthritis is 2nd and high blood pressure is 3rd)
3. The incidence rates for both arthritis and high blood pressure increase with age,
4. but the incidence rate for sinusitis is the same for people of all ages.
5. The average age of the United States population will increase between 1987 and 2000.
So, what can we conclude?
1. Definitely incidence of Arthritis and High blood pressure is going to increase as average age is increasing. But can arthritis and blood pressure surpass sinusitis? There is no such evidence in the premise.
2. Incidence of Sinusitis is going to be nearly same as it doesn't depend on the age. Since average age is increasing, so definitely the average age of people with sinusitis will increase.
Options :
A. Sinusitis will be more common than either arthritis or high blood pressure in 2000.Anything is possible. If the margin between sinusitis and arthritis or High BP is less, they may surpass the incidence of sinusitis. If the margin between sinusitis and arthritis or High BP is big, they may not surpass the incidence of sinusitis.
B. Arthritis will be the most common chronic medical condition in 2000.Similar to reasoning in A, we can't be very sure which disease will be the most common though we definitely know that incidence of arthritis and high BP will increase.
C. The average age of people suffering from sinusitis will increase between 1987 and 2000.This is correct for sure. Since the average age of the United states population will increase from 1987 to 2000. And the incidence rate of Sinusitis is same for all the ages , hence the average age of people suffering from sinusitis will surely increase between 1987 and 2000.
D. Fewer people will suffer from sinusitis in 2000 than suffered from it in 1987Since incidence rate of sinusitis doesn't depend on the age, the number of people suffering from sinusitis will be nearly same if the population is nearly same. There may be fewer people or more people depending on the population decrease or increase respectively. We actually don't know about the population scenario here.
E. A majority of the population will suffer from at least one of the medical conditions mentioned above by the year 2000.Ahhhhh... Nothing is indicating in this direction. According to the premise incidence of arthritis and high BP will surely increase but we don't know how much population will suffer.