COMAT Preventive Medicine and Public Health 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The CAGE questionnaire screens for which condition using four questions about cutting down, annoyance, guilt, and eye-openers?
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Alcohol use disorder (Correct answer)
- Opioid use disorder
Correct answer: Alcohol use disorder
The CAGE questionnaire is a validated 4-item screening tool for alcohol use disorder; a score of ≥2 indicates a clinically significant alcohol problem.
Question 2: A new drug reduces the absolute risk of myocardial infarction from 4% to 2% over 5 years. What is the number needed to treat (NNT)?
- 2
- 25
- 50 (Correct answer)
- 100
Correct answer: 50
NNT = 1 / absolute risk reduction = 1 / (0.04 − 0.02) = 1 / 0.02 = 50, meaning 50 patients must be treated to prevent one additional MI.
Question 3: Which BMI range defines Class I obesity in adults according to standard clinical guidelines?
- 25.0–29.9 kg/m²
- 30.0–34.9 kg/m² (Correct answer)
- 35.0–39.9 kg/m²
- ≥40.0 kg/m²
Correct answer: 30.0–34.9 kg/m²
Class I obesity is defined as BMI 30.0–34.9 kg/m²; Class II is 35.0–39.9, and Class III (severe) is ≥40.0 kg/m².
Question 4: Which pharmacotherapy is considered the most effective first-line agent for smoking cessation due to partial agonism at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors?
- Bupropion SR alone
- Nicotine replacement therapy alone
- Varenicline (Chantix) (Correct answer)
- Nortriptyline
Correct answer: Varenicline (Chantix)
Varenicline is the most efficacious first-line pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation, acting as a partial agonist at α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to reduce cravings and withdrawal.
Question 5: Which malignancy is strongly associated with occupational asbestos exposure, typically presenting 20–40 years after exposure?
- Silicosis
- Mesothelioma (Correct answer)
- Byssinosis
- Berylliosis
Correct answer: Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the pleura or peritoneum with a long latency period, and asbestos exposure is its predominant risk factor.
Question 6: Which of the following cardiovascular disease risk factors is considered modifiable through clinical and lifestyle intervention?
- Age
- Family history of coronary artery disease
- Hypertension (Correct answer)
- Male sex
Correct answer: Hypertension
Hypertension is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor that can be reduced through lifestyle changes, antihypertensive medications, or both.
Question 7: In a cohort study, relative risk (RR) is calculated by comparing which of the following between exposed and unexposed groups?
- Odds of disease
- Incidence (rate) of disease (Correct answer)
- Prevalence of disease
- Mortality rates of diseased patients
Correct answer: Incidence (rate) of disease
Relative risk compares the incidence rate of disease in exposed individuals to that in unexposed individuals, making it the appropriate measure for cohort studies.
