Prognoosi

Prognoosi (Finnish for prognosis) denotes the likely course and outcome of a disease for an individual, including chances of recovery, progression, or death. It is an estimate based on current clinical evidence, patient characteristics, and available treatments, and it informs decisions about testing, therapies, and planning for the future.

Clinical prognosis refers to the individual patient's expected course, while epidemiological or population-level prognosis describes outcomes for groups with similar characteristics. Projections can be short-term (weeks to months) or long-term (years). Prognostic estimates are probabilistic and subject to uncertainty; they do not determine an outcome with certainty.

Factors influencing prognosis include disease stage and biology, patient age, comorbidity, functional status, and biomarkers. Clinicians may use prognostic models and risk scores, such as nomograms, to stratify risk. Data are typically derived from survival analyses in cohort studies or trials.

Prognosis guides treatment decisions, follow-up planning, and discussions about goals of care. Limitations include that population data may not perfectly apply to an individual, therapies may change, and measurements vary. Communicating prognosis clearly and compassionately supports informed decisions and appropriate expectations.

In Finnish medical literature, prognoosi is a common term across disciplines, including oncology, neurology, and cardiology, reflecting its broad role in clinical reasoning and patient care.