Prognóze

Prognóze is a term used in several languages to refer to the forecast of the likely course and outcome of a disease or medical condition. In English, the closest term is prognosis. The etymology traces to the Greek prognōsis, meaning foreknowledge. Spelling and diacritics vary by language; some spell it prognóze, others prognosis or prognózis.

In medicine, a prognosis describes the anticipated course: whether the disease will improve, remain stable, or deteriorate, and the chances of specific outcomes such as remission, complication, or death. Prognostic assessments combine clinical data, laboratory results, imaging findings, disease stage, patient age, comorbidities, and functional status. Prognostic tools and risk scores quantify likelihoods and guide decisions about treatment, monitoring, and counseling.

Usage beyond medicine may appear in other contexts, but the core idea remains the same: an informed expectation of future development. Prognóze or prognosis serves to communicate potential trajectories to patients, families, and professionals, and to structure planning around likely scenarios.

Limitations and uncertainties are inherent in prognóze. It expresses probabilities rather than certainties; individual trajectories vary due to response to treatment, biological differences, and unforeseen events. Prognosis can change with new information, improved therapies, or changes in a patient’s condition, underscoring its role as a probabilistic guide rather than a fixed forecast.

See also: prognosis, prognostic factor, prognostic model, survival rate, forecast.