Sairausriski

Sairausriski is a Finnish term that translates to illness risk. In public health, epidemiology, and health economics, sairausriski denotes the probability that an individual or a defined population will develop a disease or experience illness within a specified period. The concept covers both infectious and non‑infectious diseases and can be assessed for individuals, demographic groups, or entire populations.

Measurement and indicators commonly used to express sairausriski include incidence proportion, incidence rate, lifetime risk, and relative risk (the risk in exposed groups compared with unexposed ones). Risk can be adjusted for factors such as age, sex, and other covariates, and statistical models like Cox proportional hazards or logistic regression are frequently employed to estimate it.

Determinants of sairausriski include genetic predisposition, age, sex, lifestyle factors (such as smoking, diet, and physical activity), comorbidities, and environmental exposures. Social determinants of health—income, education, housing, and access to care—also influence risk. Occupational exposures can create specific illness risks in certain industries.

Applications and implications of assessing sairausriski span prevention planning, screening strategies, vaccination programs, and health promotion efforts. In insurance and health economics, illness risk informs underwriting, risk pooling, and resource allocation. Public health communication seeks to present risk information clearly while acknowledging uncertainty and respecting individual values and preferences.

Limitations include variability in definitions, data quality, and the influence of competing risks and changing lifestyles over time.