Everything about Prognosis totally explained
Prognosis (older
Greek πρόγνωσις, modern Greek πρόγνωση - literally
fore-knowing, foreseeing) is a
medical term denoting the
doctor's
prediction of how a patient's
disease will progress, and whether there's chance of recovery. Since the 20th century, the word has been increasingly used in non-medical contexts as well, for example in
corporate finance.
Methodology
Disease and Prognostic Indicators
In medicine today, doctors search for methods of predicting how a patient (given their condition) may respond to treatment. Symptoms and tests may indicate favorable treatment with standard therapies. Likewise, a number of symptoms, health factors, and tests may indicate a less favorable treatment result with standard treatment - this may indicate that a more aggressive treatment plan may be desired.
Two areas where this type of prognosis prediction, or the use of
prognostic indicators, is with
Hodgkin's lymphoma and
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Specifically with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, physicians have developed the
International Prognostic Index to predict patient outcome.
Prognostic scoring is also used for other cancer outcome predictions. A
Manchester score is an indicator of prognosis in small cell
lung cancer.
Other medical areas prognostic indicators are used is in Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) (
Hy's Law) and use of an
exercise stress test as a prognostic indicator after
myocardial infarction.
End of Life
Large areas of medicine are still missing statistical figures on the exact prognosis - in these matters the doctor's previous experiences largely guides pronouncements in this matter. Medical studies have demonstrated that most doctors are overly optimistic when giving prognostic information, that is, they tend to overstate how long the patient might live. For patients who are critically ill, particularly those in an
intensive care unit, there are numerical prognostic scoring systems that are more accurate. The most famous of these is the
APACHE II scale. However, this scale is most accurate in the seven days prior to a patient's predicted death.
Knowing the prognosis helps determine whether it makes more sense to attempt certain treatments or to withhold them, and thus plays an important role in end-of-life decisions.
History
For the great 19th century physicians, particularly the
French school, the main aim of medicine wasn't to cure disease, but rather to diagnose it and achieve a satisfying
prognosis of the patient's chances. Only several decades later did the focus of efforts in Western medicine shift to curing disease.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Prognosis'.
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